title: Study of fingerprint patterns to evaluate the role of dermatoglyphics in early detection of bronchial asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatoglyphics and bronchial asthma (BA) are both influenced by genetic factors. Hence, we assessed the diagnostic potential of correlation between fingerprint pattern and BA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out in out-patient Department of Pulmonary Medicine of All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal. It included 36 patients of BA and 50 nonasthmatic individuals as controls. The following parameters were studied and analyzed: (a) Whorls, (b) arches, (c) radial loops, (d) ulnar loops, (e) the absolute finger ridge count (AFRC), (f) total finger ridge count (TFRC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in the mean value of the arches and increase in the mean value of the ulnar loops were observed in BA patients compared to the control group. The mean values of TFRC, AFRC, and whorls were similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluation of dermatoglyphic patterns may be useful in identifying patients prone to developing BA.
authors.affiliation: Second Year M.B.B.S. Student, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and T.B., All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Alkesh Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Hemant Ashish
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Harode
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Apoorva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Abhijit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pakhare
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaware
keywords: Bronchial asthma; dermatoglyphics; fingerprints