Amazoniac
Member
As they commented, this might not be precise enough for a diagnosis (especially for subtle changes), but it can offer some clues about the internal state of surfaces in a simple way. In chronic inflammation these generalized retractions become more evident and such manifestation is more useful. I have no idea if it's reliable, but it's interesting never of the less (click on the links for images):
Fingerprint Changes in Coeliac Disease
Clinical significance and genetics of epidermal ridges--A review of dermatoglyphics
Finger Prints and Disease
About the left hand being more susceptible to changes after death, they tried to investigate if there's some association with diseases and the appearence of creases (the odd lines on fingerprints) with their disappearance in some instances when the ridges have atrophied enough.
Fingerprint Changes in Coeliac Disease
"In this preliminary survey 86% of 73 patients with coeliac disease had ridge atrophy of their fingerprints. If the adults are taken alone then 95% have ridge atrophy."
"The improvement in fingerprints after treatment with a gluten-free diet has been started appears rapidly and is easily detected within a month. Ridge atrophy seemed to precede clinical deterioration by some weeks in the few patients whose fingerprints were taken frequently enough to show such changes. We cannot explain, however, the finding of normal fingerprints in three adults with coeliac disease."
"If fingerprint changes correlate closely with villous atrophy in the gut, then fingerprinting might also spare patients a repeat small intestinal biopsy."
"The improvement in fingerprints after treatment with a gluten-free diet has been started appears rapidly and is easily detected within a month. Ridge atrophy seemed to precede clinical deterioration by some weeks in the few patients whose fingerprints were taken frequently enough to show such changes. We cannot explain, however, the finding of normal fingerprints in three adults with coeliac disease."
"If fingerprint changes correlate closely with villous atrophy in the gut, then fingerprinting might also spare patients a repeat small intestinal biopsy."
Clinical significance and genetics of epidermal ridges--A review of dermatoglyphics
Finger Prints and Disease
About the left hand being more susceptible to changes after death, they tried to investigate if there's some association with diseases and the appearence of creases (the odd lines on fingerprints) with their disappearance in some instances when the ridges have atrophied enough.