Dermatoglyphic abnormalities evident in schizophrenia patients

By Mark Cowen, Senior medwireNews Reporter

Patients with schizophrenia have specific dermatoglyphic abnormalities (DAs), which support the role of neurodevelopmental disruption in development of the disorder, say US researchers.

In a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies, Jason Schiffman (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) and team found that schizophrenia patients significantly differ from controls regarding total finger ridge count (TFRC) ‑ the number of ridge counts between the core of the finger pattern and its corresponding triradius.

They also found schizophrenia patients differ significantly from controls regarding total A-B palmar ridge count (TABRC) ‑ the number of palmar ridges crossing a line superimposed on a palm print that connects triradius a, located proximal to the index finger, and triradius b, located proximal to the middle finger.

"Findings support DAs as one among other indicators of neurodevelopmental disruption, including other types of minor physical anomalies, structural and functional neuroanatomical abnormalities, neuromotor abnormalities, cortisol abnormalities, immune alterations, and neurocognitive deficits that may serve as biomarkers of schizophrenia risk," the researchers write in Schizophrenia Research.

"Future research examining the combined effects of these markers may lead to significant strides in the etiological understanding of schizophrenia."

In total, 22 studies, published between 1968 and 2012, met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis.

Data were assessed comparing schizophrenia patients and controls for TFRC, TABRC, fingertip pattern asymmetry, ATD angle (the angle formed by lines drawn from triradius t, the most distal axial triradius near the base of the palm, to triradii a and d, located proximal to the index and little fingers, respectively), fluctuating asymmetry of finger ridge count, and palmar A-B fluctuating asymmetry.

Analysis of the pooled data revealed that TFRC and TABRC were significantly lower in schizophrenia patients compared with controls, both at significant effect sizes.

There was no evidence of significant differences between schizophrenia patients and controls regarding the other DAs, however, the researchers note.

Schiffman and colleagues conclude: "The current study detected modest but significant evidence for differences in DAs between diagnostic groups, thus lending further support to the neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia."

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