Appraisal of Galton’s Details in Sickle Cell Anemia Patients of Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

Poster Board Number: 45
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Abstract Body : APPRAISAL OF GALTON’S DETAILS IN SICKLE CELL ANEMIA PATIENTS OF SAGAMU, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.
Lamidi F.K, Odubela K. O, Aleem A.A, Otulana O.J, Taiwo-Ola D.O.
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State.
Corresponding Author: lamidifikayo@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Dermatoglyphics and Fingerprint patterns have been proven to show a positive correlation with genetically determined blood diseases like sickle-cell anemia and accelerate the emergence of scientific developments into the daily practice of clinicians and other specialities. However, the profound features of fingerprint patterns called Galton's Details (Minutiae) which is responsible for the uniqueness of fingerprint have received little or no attention in association with sickle cell anaemia.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the most dominant Minutiae implicated in Sickle Cell Anaemia patients in Sagamu. Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: 50 patients (all Nigerians) with Sickle-cell anaemia from Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu and 50 students (normal group) of the Department of Anatomy, Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Science of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu Campus were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The members of the normal group were either AA or AS genotype.
Fingerprint pattern of the participants were obtained using a digital biometric machine connected to a laptop. The fingerprints were printed out on the white A4 sheet and the occurrence of each type of Galton's details were counted and recorded against each fingerprint according to the method described by Gutierrez-Redomero 2011.
The data collected was analysed using chi-square test and ANOVA for the fingerprint patterns and Galton's details respectively.
Results: Loop pattern had the highest percentage in the control group (58%) whereas it was noticeable that whorl parttern was the most common in the sickle cell patients (48%). This was followed by Arch in both groups with 28% and 26% respectively. Composite was the fewest in both groups.
The study revealed that the percentage of ridge endings was the highest in the control group (49%) while bifurcation was the highest among Sickle Cell Patients (40%). The ANOVA yielded a significant difference (P < 0.001) for ridge endings across the ten minutes types. Other ridge count variables did not indicate a trend in their mean values and their distribution were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The results of the present study corresponds with previous works in confirming the relationship between Fingerprint patterns and Sickle cell Anaemia. Furthermore, the prevalence of bifurcation as the prominent Galton's Detail in Sickle Cell patient followed by ridge endings which is the most common in the control group implies that there might be genetic alterations in the development of the ridge characteristics. All in all, further studies with large sample across the country would give a well pronounced deduction.
Keywords: Galton's Details, Sickle cell Anaemia, Sagamu, Nigeria