Evaluation of relationship between digit ratio (2D: 4D) and epilepsy: Can 2D:4D be a clue for epileptogenesis?

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.

Keywords

• Digit ratio,2D:4D,Edinburg handedness test,epilepsy,hand

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