Evaluation of dermatoglyphics patterns as predisposition factor for occurrence of oral submucous fibrosis: A hospital-based case-control study.

Background: One of the key factors in the prevention of the disease is the identification of the risk factors early in life. Based on multifactorial causation of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), apart from habit history, the genetical predisposition may be considered as an important risk factor in the occurrence of OSMF disease. The dermatoglyphic pattern may prove a salient genetic marker for the determination of OSMF as both are having similar intrauterine development period. Objectives: To find out and compare the association between dermatoglyphics and OSMF. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on total 108 subjects divided in three groups where Group A was subjects with OSMF, Group B was subjects with tobacco related habits but without OSMF, and Group C was healthy controls. Fingerprint patterns of both hands were recorded and classified into whorls, loops and arches. Results: The loop pattern was significantly higher in subjects having OSMF (Group A) as compared Group B and Group C in general as well as for left and right hands. The maximum prominence of loop patterns was noted in the little finger among the subjects with OSMF. Results for subjects with OSMF and without OSMF under five years of having tobacco chewing habits had also clearly demonstrated prominence of loop patterns in the subjects with OSMF. Conclusion: The results of our study show that there is a staunch possibility of genetically determined factors in the form of loop finger prints can be responsible for the occurrence of OSMF.