Dermatoglyphic Patterns in Androgenetic Alopecia in a Southeastern Nigerian Population

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine any characteristic dermatoglyphic patterns associated with androgenetic alopecia in South Eastern Nigeria. Dermatoglyphic analysis of three hundred (300) subjects comprising one hundred and fifty (150) androgenetic alopecians and one-hundred and fifty (150) normal subjects (non-alopecians) was carried out. The subjects were all of Igbo tribes selected at random from Enugu, Imo and Anambra States. Their grandparents were also from Igbo ethnic group. The parameters studied included: The digital patterns, digital ridge count, atd angle, dat angle and crease pattern. The results on the digital patterns showed that whorl had the highest percentage in all the digits of the alopecians while ulnar loop had the highest percentage in normal individuals. The digital ridge count was significantly higher (P <0.05) in alopecians than normal individuals. Also, the atd and dat angles in angles in alopecians were significantly higher (P <0.05) than normal subjects. However, there were no cases of Sidney and Simian crease in both groups. The above-named parameters (digital pattern, digital ridge count, atd and dat angles) which showed significant differences between the two groups are suggestive of characteristic patterns in alopecians. These are important features for identification and medical diagnosis of alopecia.