Association between Hand Digit Ratio (2D : 4D)‎ and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract EN

Objective.

Digit ratio (2D : 4D) has been suggested as a biomarker for prenatal hormone activity and has been linked to several types of cancer.

This study investigated the possible correlation between 2D : 4D ratios and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Methods.

A case-control study was performed with Brazilian subjects.

Direct measurements of the lengths of index and ring fingers of both hands of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=43) and controls matched by age and gender (n=86) were obtained by using a digital vernier caliper.

Mean ratios between the second and fourth digits were compared.

Data were analyzed by Student’s t-test with a significance level of 5%.

Results.

No significant difference was found between the mean digit ratios of the right and left hands between the groups for any analysis (p>0.05), neither for the whole sample nor for the distribution by gender.

Conclusions.

We observed that patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia do not have a different digit pattern when compared with unaffected individuals, which may suggest that exposure to prenatal sex hormone is similar between groups.