Acquired adermatoglyphia associated with sporadic inclusion body myositis

Abstract

A 70-year-old male patient with inclusion body myositis presented to dermatology clinic for evaluation of loss of fingerprints. Eight years previously, he had fingerprints taken for a government permit. Inclusion body myositis (IBM) was diagnosed four years later after the patient developed muscle weakness in his left lower extremity and right upper extremity and was confirmed by muscle biopsy. The patient also reported loss of skin lines that gave his fingers a shiny appearance, most prominently on the left hand, which he had associated the inclusion body myositis due to weakness in this hand. He was unable to renew the government permit due to an inability for the machine to read his fingerprints. Upon exam, the fingers of his hands, most prominently the left 3rd and 4th digits, had a smooth texture and glossy appearance circumferentially associated with diminution of skin lines and palmar dermatoglyphs. Workup for connective tissue and other autoimmune diseases was negative. This case suggests asymmetric adermatoglyphia may distinguish a subset of patients with IBM.