A STUDY OF DERMATOGLYPHIC PATTERN IN CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE PATIENTS

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most important cause of mortality and morbidity in the world. The dermatoglyphic pattern in patients with CAD is an interesting matter and little information is available about this relationship. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was carried out in the department of Anatomy P.D.U. Medical collegeRajkot, Gujrat. It includes 100 patients (80 males and 20 females) of CAD and 100 normal healthy individual were included as controls. The Palmar Prints of the patients and the controls were taken on the Map Litho White paper by ink method. The dermatoglyphic patterns are analysed under following heading: Qualitative analysis of finger Prints in Loops , Arches and Whorl. RESULTS: The percentage of loops is 50.7% and 57% in CAD males and CAD females as compared to 57.1% and 62.0% in control males and control females respectively. The percentage of arches is 6.3% and 9% in CAD males and CAD females as compared to 7.8% and 10% in control males and control females respectively. The percentage of whorls in 43.1% and 34% in CAD males and CAD females as compared to 35.1% and 28.3% in control males and control females respectively. The percentage of loop, arch and whorls in 51.9%, 6.8% and 41.2% respectively in CAD (M+F) as compared to 58%, 8.3% and 33.7% respectively in control (M+F). DISCUSSION: Dermatoglyphics as a diagnostic tool is now well established in a number of disease which have strong hereditary basis. Coronary Artery Disease being the hereditary background, certain derm. The observed values in the current study were first subjected to the test of statistical significance and the findings were then compared with the available literature of previous workers. Details are given in discussion part. CONCLUSION: The observations shows that, There is decrease in loops and increase in whorls patterns in patients of CAD in both sexes and both hands.There is significant decrease in loops with corresponding increase in whorls in CAD males, CAD (M+F) and CAD left hand as compared to the controls.