Hereditary gingival fibromatosis: report on three families and dermatoglyphic analysis.

Some syndromes that include gingival fibromatosis are associated with abnormalities of the hands and feet. The purpose of this work was to establish whether gingival fibromatosis, as an isolated disease, can be connected with disturbances in the development of the digitopalmar structures. In three families with 40 members, fibromatosis manifested in 16 (7 males and 9 females). The disease was transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. Dermatoglyphics were analyzed in the proband in each family and in their fathers who had fibromatosis. The analysis showed the presence of patterns in IV interdigital areas in all patients. The fathers of 2 probands had double loops in the IV interdigital area, which is very rare in the general population (frequency, 0.6%). The position of the axial triradius was moderately distal (t') in 1, and markedly distal (t") in another, and in 4 it was borderline (tb). Total finger ridge count was increased, which indicated the increased size of the volar embryonal pads. Distorted dermatoglyphic findings may be considered microform abnormalities of the fingers and hands. Since dermatoglyphics are highly genetically controlled and reflect the status of the embryonal pads, the results suggest disharmony in the development of the mesodermal structures of the hands.