Dermatoglyphic patterns, very low birth weight, and blood pressure in adolescence

Aims-To test the null hypotheses that finger and palm prints have no relati on with fetal growth or adolescent blood pressure. Methods-All 128 singleton, unimpaired, very low birth weight (VLBW; less th an or equal to 1500 g) infants born to mothers resident in the county of Me rseyside in 1980 and 1981 were studied retrospectively. The comparison grou p consisted of 128 age, sex, and school matched children. Main outcome meas ures were blood pressure at age 15 years, birth weight ratio, fingerprint p atterns, and palmar AtD angles. Results-The VLBW index population had a significantly higher systolic blood pressure than the comparison group (mean difference 3.2 mm Hg). The differ ence in diastolic blood pressure between the VLBW index and the matched com parison group was not significant. No significant differences were found in the palmar AtD angles or in the fingerprint proportions of arches, loops, and whorls and no correlation was found between fingerprint patterns and bl ood pressure. Among the VLBW index population, both height and right palmar AtD angle were independently and significantly correlated with and explain ed 12.1% of the variance in the systolic blood pressure. Birth weight ratio , as a measure of fetal growth restriction, had no significant correlation with systolic blood pressure. Conclusions-The higher systolic blood pressure of adolescents who were of v ery low birth weight compared with the matched comparison group is not asso ciated with fingerprint patterns or birth weight ratio as markers for fetal growth restriction.