RESUMO
In an attempt to describe a new clinical sign in some connective tissue diseases termed round finger print sign, [this term refers to disappearance of the peaked contour of the normal finger print and replacement with a hemisphere like finger print contour], the finger prints in 85 patients and 50 controls were studied. They were classified as follow. Group I: 30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [28 females and 2 males, their mean age was 22.32 +/- 2.3 years]. Group II: 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis [31 females and 9 males, their mean age was 25.81 +/- 6.79 years]. Group III: 15 patients with scleroderma [12 females and 3 males, their mean age was 35. +/- 2.1 years]. Group IV: 50 healthy subjects as controls [45 females and 5 males, their mean age was 30 +/- 8.1 years. Full history taking and examinations were done. Investigations were done to all patients and controls included rheumatoid factor, ANA, platelets count. ect. Then finger prints were studied using magnifying lense with light source, and the permanent finger prints were recorded by ink method. The results of this study showed that, positive round [whorl] finger print sign in 44% of systemic lupus erythernatosus patients [SLE], 54% of rheumatoid arthritis [RA] patients and 93% of progressive systemic sclerosis [PSS]patients with significant statistical differences between all patient groups and control [P < 0.05, < 0.05 and < 0.001 respectively]. This sign is seemed to be anew and useful clinical marker for these connective tissue diseases and may help in early diagnosis