What is Adermatoglyphia?

is a rare condition that is characterized by the lack of ridges on the skin of the
fingers, toes, palms of the hand and soles of the feet. Because the pattern of these ridges form each person's
unique fingerprints, people with this condition are not able to be identified by their fingerprints. In 2007, the
description of a case of a person from Switzerland lacking fingerprints as an isolated finding was
published.[1] The phenotype was mapped to chromosome 4q22. In the splice-site of a 3' exon of the gene
for SMARCAD1-helicase, a point mutation was detected. It results in a shortened form of the skin-
specific protein. The heterozygous mode of mutation suggests an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance.

What makes Adermatoglyphia a rare condition? is an extremely rare genetic disorder that causes a person
to have no fingerprints. There are only four(5)(currently in Manitoba Canada there is one family (all females not
males) that do not have finger or toe prints) known extended families worldwide that are affected by this
condition.

What are the symptoms of Adermatoglyphia? may occur without any additional signs or symptoms;
however, it may be associated with other skin abnormalities including small white bumps on the
face, blistering of the skin, and/or a reduced number of sweat glands on the hands and feet.

What causes Adermatoglyphia? caused by changes (mutations) in the SMARCAD1 gene and is inherited in
an autosomal dominant manner.

*SMARCADThe SMARCAD1 gene provides instructions for making two versions (isoforms) of the
SMARCAD1 protein: a full-length isoform and a shorter, skin-specific isoform. The full-length isoform is active
(expressed) in multiple tissues, where it regulates the activity of a wide variety of genes involved in maintaining
the stability of cells' genetic information. The skin-specific isoform is expressed only in skin cells, and little is
known about its function. However, it appears to play a critical role in the formation of dermatoglyphs, which
are the patterns of skin ridges on the pads of the fingers that form the basis for each person's unique
fingerprints. These ridges are also present on the toes, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet.
Dermatoglyphs develop before birth and remain the same throughout life. The activity of the skin-specific
isoform of the SMARCAD1 protein is likely one of several factors that determine each person's unique
fingerprint pattern.

Summary: Adermatoglyphia is a rare condition that is characterized by the lack of ridges on the skin of the
fingers, toes, palms of the hand and soles of the feet. Because the pattern of these ridges form each person's
unique fingerprints, people with this condition are not able to be identified by their fingerprints. In some cases,
adermatoglyphia may occur without any additional signs or symptoms; however, it may be associated with
other skin abnormalities including small white bumps on the face, blistering of the skin, and/or a reduced
number of sweat glands on the hands and feet. Adermatoglyphia is caused by changes (mutations) in
the SMARCAD1 gene and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. Treatment is typically only necessary
if other features are present.[1][2]