Abnormal oral vascular network pattern geometry: a new clinical sign of down syndrome.

Down syndrome is a leading genetic cause of mental retardation. Here, we show high fractal dimensions and Lempel-Ziv complexity and lower minimum path fractal dimension (P < or = .0006) for the oral vascular networks of patients (n = 14) and their unaffected parents. This newly recognized sign may provide a useful phenotypical marker for identifying couples potentially at risk for offspring with Down syndrome.