Absence of dermal ridge patterns: genetic heterogeneity.

An apparently new form of complete absence of dermal ridge patterns was transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait through five generations in an Irish-American family. Affected individuals lacked dermatoglyphic patterns, sweat pores, and ability to sweat in the volar areas of the fingertips, palms, and soles. They also had congenital milia and blisters on the fingertips and soles at birth, abnormal nails, single transverse palmar creases, increased heat tolerance, and painful fissures in adult life around the fingernails in cold weather.