2D:4D indicates phimosis risk: A study on digit ratio and early foreskin development.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Ireland NLM ID: 7708381 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1872-6232 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 03783782 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Early Hum Dev Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: Limerick : Elsevier
      Original Publication: Amsterdam, Elsevier/North-Holland.
    • Subject Terms:
      Fingers/*anatomy & histology ; Foreskin/*growth & development ; Phimosis/*epidemiology; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Foreskin/pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Phimosis/diagnosis
    • Abstract:
      Background: Many researchers have adopted 2D:4D (second to fourth finger length ratio) as a noninvasive retrospective biomarker for prenatal androgen exposure in recent years. It is thought to be related to diverse traits including behavioral phenotypes, disease susceptibility, and development of urogenital system.
      Objective: To examine the relationship between 2D:4D and early foreskin development.
      Methods: We analyzed the digit ratio and foreskin condition in 176 cases (range 0-6years). The boys were divided into four groups according to their ages: group 1, neonates (below 28days, n=13); group 2, infants (1-12months, n=45); group 3, toddlers (1-2years old, n=42); group 4, preschool children (3-6years old, n=76). We measured the lengths of the second and fourth digits of the left and right hands. The foreskin status was classified into 4 types. Type I (phimosis), type II (partial phimosis), type III (adhesion of prepuce), type IV (normal).
      Results: The phimosis rate was 92.3%, 82.2%, 45.2%, and 38.7% in group 1 to group 4. In contrast, the proportion of normal foreskin increased from 0% in neonates to 13.2% in preschool children. The percentage of higher level of foreskin development shows a downward trend with the increase of digits ratio, and as the age grows, the percentage of normal foreskin cases also increases.
      Conclusions: These results suggest that a higher R2D:4D (right hand 2D:4D) is a risk factor for phimosis in the early human development. Age is also a significant influence factor of foreskin conditions. Additional research is required to identify pathophysiologic mechanisms and to determine clinical significance.
      (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: 2D:4D; Circumcision; Digit ratio; Foreskin; Phimosis; Redundant prepuce; Sex hormones
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20160709 Date Completed: 20171208 Latest Revision: 20171208
    • Publication Date:
      20221213
    • Accession Number:
      10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2016.05.013
    • Accession Number:
      27390108