[Dermatoglyphics of children with chronic constipation].
BACKGROUND
The dermatoglyphics can be used to study the participation of genetic factors in many diseases. There is controversy concerning the association between the dermatoglyphic pattern of digital arches and constipation.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the dermatoglyphic patterns among children with and without chronic constipation in relation to the dermatoglyphic patterns and characteristics of stools of their mothers.


METHODS
Three groups of children aged from 2 to 12 years and their mothers were studied: 35 patients with severe chronic constipation, 45 children with mild chronic constipation and 51 children without constipation. The fingerprints were taken and evaluated by a datiloscopy technicist and classified in arch, radial loop, ulnar loop, whorl and others.


RESULTS
Digital arches were found in 25.7% of severe constipated patients, 28.9% of mild constipated children and in 23.5% of controls. There was not a statistical significant association. Constipation was found in 51,9% (68/131) of the mothers. Arches were found in 35.3% of the mother with constipation and in 42.9% of mothers without constipation. There was a slight association between constipation in children and in theirs mothers (Kappa coefficient = +0.16).


CONCLUSIONS
The dermatoglyphics were not useful to identify the influence of genetic in constipation. There was not association between the dermatoglyphic pattern of digital arch and constipation both in children and in their mothers. Only a slight concordance was found between constipation in children and in their mothers.
Goshima
Soraya
S
Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Fagundes-Neto
Ulysses
U
Morais
Mauro Batista de
MB
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003248:Constipation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric