Dermatoglyphics and ankylosing spondylitis.

Dermatoglyphics "the epidermal ridge configurations of the fingers, toes, palms and soles", not only help identify individuals, but have been proved to give important information about some genetic disorders. This study was aimed at finding a possible correlation between the dermatoglyphic differences in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the HLA B27 antigen. The dermatoglyphic patterns of AS patients were compared with the data of control subjects. Significant dermatoglyphic abnormalities were found, but there proved to be no connection between the HLA B27 antigens. We therefore conclude that HLA B27 does not contribute to the development of dermatoglyphic abnormalities. It seems, however, that our findings provide some new nosographic information to the natural picture of AS.