Parental Dermatoglyphic Aspects in Trisomy 21

The paper deals with an analysis of digito-palmar dermatoglyphics with the parents of 54 children with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) studied before [15]. The results obtained confirm the data found in the foreign specialised literature according to which many of the dermatoglyphic malformations present at children with Trisomy 21 can also be found to their apparently healthy parents but in a smaller number, because here they signal only the presence of the Trisomy 21 (partial Trisomy 21, Trisomy 21 by balanced translocation or mosaic Trisomy 21) while in the case of the affected children these abnormalities are also the graphic expression of the multiple malformations that accompany their total or unbalanced translocation Trisomy 21. Consequently, the author considers that the dermatoglyphic distortions illustrated in both cases (parents and their children), could be used as pathological indicators in the identifying of the carrier persons of the inapparent phenotypically Trisomy 21 but having the risk of giving birth to children with complete Trisomy 21 and specific multiple malformations.