Effectiveness of Dermal Indices in Detecting Down Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Dermatoglyphics is the study of epidermal ridge patterns of the fingers and palms and has been recognized as a useful anatomical marker of genetic disorders. Down syndrome (DS), caused mainly by trisomy 21, is associated with characteristic dermatoglyphic alterations. This study assessed the effectiveness of selected dermal indices in distinguishing individuals with DS from normal controls.
Objectives: To compare true palmar patterns in interdigital areas and palmar crease patterns between individuals with DS and normal controls and to assess their potential usefulness as preliminary indicators of DS.
Materials and Methods: A comparative study was conducted among 40 diagnosed individuals with DS, aged 6–16 years, and 40 normal controls. Participants with DS were selected from Society for the Welfare of the Intellectually Disabled, Bangladesh (SWID, Bangladesh) and the Down Syndrome Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka. Dermatoglyphic prints were obtained using the ink-and-paper method. True palmar patterns in five areas and the presence of normal, Sydney, and Simian creases were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, and groups were compared using the proportion test.
Results: True palmar patterns in interdigital area IV were significantly lower in the DS group, while patterns in area V were significantly higher in both hands (p<0.05). Normal palmar creases were significantly less frequent among individuals with DS than controls (71.2% vs. 100%, p=0.0003). Simian creases were significantly more frequent in DS (20% vs. 0%, p=0.003), whereas the difference in Sydney lines was not statistically significant when both hands were considered (8.8% vs. 0%, p=0.057).
Conclusion: Characteristic differences in true palmar patterns and palmar creases demonstrate that dermatoglyphics may serve as a simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective preliminary screening tool for identifying individuals suspected of having DS and referring them for confirmatory genetic analysis.

KYAMC Journal Vol. 16, No. 04, January 2026: 185-191.