A study of effect of end-stage renal disease on fingerprints

Abstract

Background: Epidermal ridge patterns on fingers, commonly known as fingerprints are one of the oldest and reliable means for human identification. Their reliability is based on the fundamental premise that these patterns are unique to individuals and persistent, i.e., do not change with time. In our maintenance hemodialysis program, we have observed that some of the patients were experiencing problems due to alteration in the pattern while using fingerprints as a biometric for identification. Therefore, we conducted an observational study to understand the magnitude and changes in patterns of the fingerprint impression in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis. Objectives: To compare and record loss of fingerprint pattern in patients of Chronic Kidney Disease on maintenance hemodialysis and in controls. Methods: A case control study was conducted over six months period on 150 patients with Chronic Kidney Disease on dialysis and 150 patients of healthy controls in Sri Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences,Tirupati. The fingerprints were obtained from all the ten fingers and were analyzed using a magnifying lens under good day light for finger print clarity and pattern . Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0 software (SPSS, Chicago, 2, USA), unpaired student T test. Results: Fingerprints were partially lost in 13.3% and completely lost in 10% of patients with ESRD while it was only 1.3% in control group.

Keywords

• dialysis
• end-stage renal disease
• fingerprint pattern