Fingerprint comparison between before disease onset and after systemic sclerosis diagnosis: a monocentric cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Skin tightness is a hallmark of systemic sclerosis (SSc), and the fingers are an affected body part, so much so that fingerprints can be significantly affected among those with extensive skin tightness of the finger.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to compare the difference between the current and past (pre-disease onset) fingerprints of SSc patients.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study among adult SSc patients who attended the Scleroderma Clinic, Khon Kaen University, between October 2019, and September 2020. All eligible patients consented to obtaining their current and previous prints from the Central Registration Bureau, Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of the Interior. The current prints were obtained using the Crossmatch (Lite UE) live scan from the Central Institute of Forensic Science of Thailand. We investigated the concordance between the prints before disease onset and the current (enroll date) via the Printquest AFIS system with officers from the Central Institute of Forensic Science, Thailand.

RESULTS

One hundred SSc patients, according to the sample size calculation, were enrolled (mean age 59.4 ± 9.6 years; 66% female). Most (70%) had the diffuse cutaneous SSc subset. A respective 59%, 55%, and 6% presented acro-osteolysis, hand deformities, and digital ulcers. Some challenges were experienced in obtaining prints from patients with loss of the fingertip fat pad, finger joint contracture, and/or acro-osteolysis; notwithstanding, all fingerprints were usable and without individualized changes.

CONCLUSION

Fingerprints were affected by fingertip lesions and finger joint contractures; notwithstanding, the prints remained usable for personal identification. Key Points • Skin involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) affects the prints, particularly at the fingertip. • Despite disease onset, the fingerprints of SSc patients do not change significantly. • Fingerprints are inadequate for personal identification among SSc patients with hand deformities due to poor quality or difficulty acquiring them.