Background: Both dermatoglyphics and lip prints/cheiloscopic patterns are genetically determined. Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and causes 17.9 million deaths worldwide each year. Hypertension is also known to have a genetic background as it runs in families.
Objectives: This study was conducted to recognize individuals with a genetic predisposition to have hypertension and to determine significant dermatoglyphic parameters and lip print characters applicable to hypertension, also to assess their reliability and validity.
Subjects and Methods: 100 female hypertensive patients were taken as the test subjects from the Assiut University Hospital, and an equal number of healthy normotensive volunteers from the general population were utilized as controls. Fingerprint patterns of both groups were recorded using Cummin's method. Then dermatoglyphic analysis was then performed on the prints. Lip impressions were made using red or brown lipstick, A4 size white bond paper, and cellophane tape. The types of grooves were categorized using Suzuki and Tsuchihashi's taxonomy, and the results were statistically examined.
Results: Significant dermatoglyphic and cheiloscopic results were detected in the hypertensive group compared to the normotensive control. The data revealed a higher frequency of ulnar loop patterns in both normotensive and hypertensive followed by the whorl and arch fingerprint patterns. A significant decrease in the a-b ridge count and ‘atd' angle was declared in the hypertensive group compared to the control. Regarding the cheiloscopic patterns, the obtained data showed significantly higher frequencies of lip-branched patterns and irregular/undifferentiated patterns in the hypertensive group in comparison to the normotensive one. Conclusion: Significant indicators of dermatoglyphic and cheiloscopic features were demonstrated in the hypertensive group compared to the control one. so, they might be employed as a reliable genetic marker for the screening of hypertension.