DERMATOGLYPHICS IN OFFSPRING OF WOMEN GIVEN GAMMA-GLOBULIN PROPHYLAXIS DURING PREGNANCY

The fingertip dermatoglyphic patterns were studied in 93 infants whose mothers had been given gamma globulin (GG) prophylaxis against hepati tis on known gestational dates. The prevalence of infants with whorl p atterns on 0-3 fingertips and that of infants with ulnar loops on 9 or 10 fingertips were significantly higher (P < 0.02 and P = 0.01, respe ctively) in offspring of women given prophylaxis during the first 162 days of pregnancy than in those whose mothers received GG at a later s tage of gestation. These findings were particularly prominent in infan ts who had been exposed to greater than or equal to 5 ml of GG in the first 162 days of gestation. In light of these observations, and of pr eviously noted dermatoglyphic changes in offspring of women who had ge stational prophylaxis against rubella, it appears that exogenous GG ca n influence the prenatal development of fingertip skin ridge patterns, and that this influence is responsive to the gestational timing and d osage of GG administered. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.