Dermatoglyphics of Jewish Down patients.

Two Jewish groups with Down Syndrome were studied, and were found to be similar. The findings were compared with those obtained by various investigators for British D.S. and British controls (Penrose, 1954; Holt, 1964, 1968; Penrose and Smith, 1966; Smith and Berg, 1976). (Table 10). Digital, palmar and plantar parameters were studied. Inspite of the significant ethnic differences existing between the two control populations, the Jews and the Britons, the Jewish patients with Down Syndrome manifest a uniformity of dermatoglyphic characteristics as do the British patients (Table 11). These typical dermatoglyphic characteristics are superimposed on the ethnic differences. It seems that Down Syndrome has any features in common the world over, but the details of the differences are important for each ethnic group, and should not be neglected.