Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the possible association between the 2D:4D
ratio and epilepsy in male and female adults, and to compare the ratios of epilepsy patients and
healthy control subjects.
Patients and Methods: A case-control study carried out at a neurology and biophyiscs
department in Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Faculty of Medicine from May 2016 to January
2017. The 2D:4D ratios of both the left and right hands of 172 epilepsy patients and 202
matched healthy controls were recorded. All participants also completed the Edinburgh
handedness inventory.
Results: A significant positive correlation between the 2D:4D ratio and epilepsy was found for
both females and males; a lower ratio for the left hand was associated with a higher possibility
of epilepsy. In addition, a lower ratio in a specific hand was associated with that hand being
used to complete the handedness test.
Conclusions: The 2D:4D ratio serves as a predictor for increased risk of epilepsy. Thus, it could
be used as a marker to differentiate patients with epilepsy from healthy controls.