International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences | June 2017 | Vol 5 | Issue 6 Page 2558 International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences Latiff AA et al. Int J Res Med Sci. 2017 Jun;5(6):2558-2562 www.msjonline.org pISSN 2320-6071 | eISSN 2320-6012 Original Research Article A comparative study of dermatoglyphic markers in schizophrenia patients and normal controls Ashma A. Latiff 1 *, Sundarapandian S. 1 , Arul Saravanan R. 2 INTRODUCTION Dermatoglyphics is the scientific study of fingerprints. The term was coined by Cummins and Midlo. 1 In humans, dermatoglyphics gives insight into a critical period of embryogenesis, from 4 weeks to 20 weeks, when the architecture of the major organ systems is developing. Dermatoglyphics, determined by polygenic inheritance, is a useful tool in finding out an association of morphological and genetic characters. The malformations of dermatoglyphic characteristics can result from a number of physiological insults that can occur during foetal development, including exposure to environmental toxins, viral infections, or genetic mutations. The second trimester of foetal development is particularly implicated as a period of potential vulnerability as this trimester is the critical period for both foetal brain and epidermal ridge development. 2 Thus, dermatoglyphics provide an attractive set of potential markers, as their development is localized to that period during which the maturing foetal brain may be at highest risk for the later development of schizophrenia. Ridges appear on the surface ectoderm of fingers and palm during the first and second trimester of gestation. 3 During this same period there is significant and critical growth and development of the neuroectodermal derivative, the brain. Skin and brain develop from ectoderm and cells migrate to the cerebral cortex in second trimester. It is probable that an insult causing damage to one of these systems would damage the other, and there is now evidence relating aspects of the dermatoglyphic profiles of the hands to schizophrenia. 4,5 The rationale for studying dermatoglyphic features is derived from the fact that during their ontogeny, massive neural cell migration 1 Department of Anatomy, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India 2 Department of Psychiatry, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India Received: 26 March 2017 Accepted: 25 April 2017 *Correspondence: Dr. Ashma A. Latiff, E-mail: ashmaarul@gmail.com Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT Background: Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness with multiple etiological factors. Prenatal insult to the developing foetus has been implicated as a major risk factor for the genesis of schizophrenia, according to the neuro- developmental model. As the brain and skin are ectodermal derivatives, insult to developing brain is reflected in several dermatoglyphic markers. Methods: Total finger ridge count (TFRC), Total A-B ridge count (TABRC) and ATD Angle of 100 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were compared with 100 age and sex matched healthy controls. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in the values recorded and compared between healthy controls and schizophrenia patients. Conclusions: This study shows the correlation between abnormalities in dermatoglyphic patterns and development of schizophrenia. Keywords: ATD Angle, Dermatoglyphics, Schizophrenia, TABRC, TFRC DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20172447