Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
A Simian Crease | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
We were told by a doctor that our daughter has a simian crease on the palm of her hand and were advised to let her pediatrician know. What is a simian crease? What is its' significance?— Erica in Alabama | | | ANSWER |
July 23, 2001 | | | Dear Erica,
A so-called simian crease is nothing more than a crease that runs across all or nearly all of the palm, rather than stopping about 2/3 of the way across as most hand creases do. Another term for the same thing is a "transverse palmar crease"--that is, a crease that runs across the palm.
A simian crease sometimes goes along with Down syndrome. However, not all children who have a simian crease have Down syndrome. So, before you worry, please do have your child examined by a knowledgeable doctor. The doctor will look at your daughter's palm creases, and also examine her completely for other signs of Down syndrome or other disorders. The diagnosis of Down syndrome is made by analyzing the chromosomes; that is, by a blood test.
If the doctor finds no other signs of Down syndrome or other disorders (and if any blood tests that are done show normal chromosomes) then the simian crease will mean absolutely nothing. Plenty of healthy people are walking around with minor physical differences that only a doctor who was looking carefully would notice.— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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