Fingerprint ridge-count difference between adjacent fingertips (dR45) predicts upper-body tissue distribution: Evidence for early gestational programming

Fingerprint ridge counts, which remain constant from the 19th week of pregn ancy, are related to fingertip growth during early gestation. Each finger c orresponds neurologically to a spinal-cord segment ranging from C6 (thumb, relatively cephalad) to C8 (fifth finger, relatively caudad). The authors h ypothesized that large ridge-count differences between fingertips (cephalad > caudad) might reflect fetal inhibition of caudal growth. Among 69 male A tlanta, Georgia, military recruits (1994-1997; aged 17-22 years), they test ed associations of the anthropometric waist-to-thigh ratio with 20 ridge-co unt differences. Waist-to-thigh ratio was associated with the ridge-count d ifference between the right fourth and fifth fingertips only (dR45; r = 0.3 6, p = 0.003). The race-adjusted standardized regression coefficient was 0. 22 (95% confidence interval: 0.03, 0.41). Since upper-body tissue distribut ion indicates disease risk, the authors then tested the association of age tan indicator of survivorship) with dR45 in a sample of 135 male patients f rom Bangalore, India (1989-1990; aged 38-82 years). Age was inversely assoc iated with dR45 (r = -0.17, p = 0.04), notably among the 75 men with diabet es (r = -0.22, p = 0.06). An increased dR45 predicts an upper-body tissue d istribution originating before the midpoint of pregnancy. The cause of this developmental pattern is unknown, but it may lead to reduced survivorship.