dermatoglyphic index for the diagnosis of Down Syndrome

ABSTRACT

The plam and foot prints of 52 male Mongols and 100 male normal controls were examined for the pattern of 28 dermatoglyphic areas. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between Mongols and control subjects in the pattern frequency of 15 areas; only eight pattern areas accounted for most of the total dermatoglyphic variation between the two groups. Since discriminant function analysis of these eight areas permitted accurate diagnosis of subjects with Down syndrome, a simple dermatoglyphic diagnostic index was devised to facilitate clinical application of the method: