Fátima Aguiar, F.

Tendais-Almeida, J.

Torres, T.

Repositório Científico da Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António

CLINICAL120 REPRINTED FROM AFP VOL.45, NO.3, MARCH 2016 © The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 2016Nail pitting and onycholysisJoana Tendais-Almeida, Fátima Aguiar, Tiago TorresCase studyA previously healthy man, 43 years of age, was referred to the dermatology department with a one-year history of fingernail onychomycosis. His condition was refractory to oral antifungal treatment (terbinafine 250 mg QD for three months). On physical examination, nail pitting and onycholysis affecting seven fingernails was noted (Figure 1A). He also had mild erythematous silvery-white scaly patches in the left external ear canal (Figure 1B) and slight, fine scaling of the scalp, which was associated with mild pruritus. No other skin lesions were detected.Question 1What is the most likely diagnosis for this patient?Question 2How do you diagnose this disease?Question 3Are there other possible diagnoses?Question 4What may be the implications of nail involvement in this disease?Question 5How do you manage this patient?Answer 1The most likely diagnosis in this case is psoriasis with mainly fingernail involvement – nail psoriasis. Although nail psoriasis occurs as an isolated symptom in only 5–10% of patients, it is present in approximately 50% of patients with psoriasis.1This patient presented with nail plate depressions (nail pitting) and nail detachment from the nail bed (onycholysis), two of the most common features of nail psoriasis. However, these features alone are not specific enough to make this diagnosis as they can be present in several other conditions.2 The combination of the nail pitting and onycholysis with the silvery-white, scaly patches in the external ear canal and scalp (classical signs of skin psoriasis) makes nail psoriasis the most likely diagnosis in this case.Answer 2It is easier to diagnose nail psoriasis when skin psoriatic features are also present, as in this case.3 There are many clinical manifestations of nail psoriasis (Table 1) depending on the part of the nail that is affected, nail pitting being the most common.4 In the absence of skin psoriatic lesions, nail psoriasis may be a challenging diagnosis even for a dermatologist, as the features mentioned are not always present and they are not specific for nail psoriasis.3 Therefore, it may be necessary to use additional techniques such as nail biopsy and dermatoscopy to clarify this diagnosis.3Answer 3The most frequent differential diagnosis of nail psoriasis is onychomycosis.3 However, there are some signs that are more typical of onychomycosis:3• preferential involvement of toenails• involvement of one or a few digits• loss of nail transparency • pitting lesions.3 In addition, these two conditions can co-exist in the same patient, making the diagnosis even more challenging. 3,4Nail pitting may also be present in alopecia areata and lichen planus.5 However, the most characteristic features in lichen planus are longitudinal grooves and fissures, and dorsal pterygium, and nail pitting may not be present.3 In alopecia areata, nail pitting is usually fine and stippled, and other features such as areas without body hair should be present.3Figure 1. (A) Clinical appearance of patient’s fingernails (B) external ear canalA B121NAIL PITTING AND ONYCHOLYSIS  CLINICALREPRINTED FROM AFP VOL.45, NO.3, MARCH 2016© The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 2016Answer 4Nail psoriasis is a marker for more severe skin manifestations as well as joint involvement.2 This association is well established in the literature,2,6 and different studies have found that 70–80% of patients with psoriatic arthritis have nail involvement.3,7,8 This connection may help to diagnose psoriatic arthritis in patients with nail psoriasis, when skin lesions are absent.2 It may also be a predisposing factor for secondary fungal infections.2Apart from health implications, nail psoriasis causes significant functional and cosmetic impairment, leading to psychological stress and a negative impact on social and work activities.1,9Answer 5Nail psoriasis is particularly difficult to treat given the long-term treatment required, which is often ineffective.9 The most popular topical therapeutic choices are glucocorticosteroids and vitamin D3 analogs, although there is no standardised therapeutic regimen.5 Systemic therapeutic agents such as cyclosporin and methotrexate may improve both skin and nails, but they are associated with end-organ toxicity and are not recommended for patients with only nail lesions.3,9 With the advent of biologic therapies for psoriasis, the treatment of nail psoriasis has improved significantly. In addition to medical treatment, there are simple approaches that should be encouraged, such as keeping nails short in order to prevent infection, preventing nail injury using gloves, avoiding manicures, and applying emollient on hands and nail folds.1,3Key points• Nail psoriasis is not the most common presentation of psoriasis, but 5–10% of psoriatic patients can present with it as an isolated form.• In the absence of skin psoriatic lesions, nail psoriasis may be a challenging diagnosis.• The most common features of nail psoriasis are not specific enough to make this diagnosis as they are present in other conditions such as onychomycosis.• Nail psoriasis is a marker for more severe skin manifestations as well as joint involvement.• Nail psoriasis treatment is long term and often ineffective.AuthorsJoana Tendais-Almeida MD, Family Medicine Trainee, USF Serpa Pinto, Porto, Portugal. joanatendaisalmeida@gmail.comFátima Aguiar MD, Family Medicine Doctor, USF Serpa Pinto, Porto, PortugalTiago Torres MD, PhD, Dermatologist, Department of Dermatovenereology, Centro Hospitalar Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, PortugalCompeting interests: Tiago Torres has received payment for board membership, expert testimony, speaking engagements and presentations and for travel/accommodation expenses from Pfizer, Abbvie, Novartis, Janssen, MSD and Leo-Pharma. He has also received payment for consultancy from Janssen and grants from MSD and Leo-Pharma.Provenance and peer review: Not commissioned, externally reviewed.References1. Edwards F, Berker D. Nail psoriasis – Clinical presentation and best practice recommendations. Drugs 2009;69(17):2351–61.2. Schons KRR, Murussi N, Neumaier W, Knob CF, Beber AAC, Monticielo OA. Nail psoriasis: A review of literature. An Bras Dermatol 2014;89(2):312–17.3. Dogra A, Arora AK. Nail psoriasis: The journey so far. Indian J Dermatol 2014;59(4):319–33.4. Tan EST, Chong WS, Tey HL. Nail psoriasis: A review. Am J Clin Dermatol 2012;13(6):375–88.5. Jiaravuthisan MM, Sasseville D, Vender RB, Murphy F, Muhn CY. Psoriasis of the nail: Anatomy, pathology, clinical presentation, and a review of the literature on therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol 2007;57(1):1–27.6. Wilson FC, Icen M, Crowson CS, McEvoy MT, Gabriel SE, Kremers HM. Incidence and clinical predictors of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis: A population-based study. Arthritis Rheum 2009;61(2):233–39.7. Leung YY, Tam LS, Kun EW, Li EK. Psoriatic arthritis as a distinct disease entity. J Postgrad Med 2007;53(1):63–71.8. Raposo I, Torres T. Nail psoriasis as a predictor of the development of psoriatic arthritis. Actas Dermosifiliogr 2015;106(6):452–57. 9. Baran R. The burden of nail psoriasis: An introduction. Dermatology 2010;221(suppl1):1–5.Table 1. Clinical features of nail psoriasisClinical features DescriptionNail pitting Superficial depressions in the nail plateLeukonychia 1–2 mm wide white bands that involve more than one nail and are due to the internal desquamation of parakeratotic cellsOil spots or salmon patches Translucid and discoloured red–yellow patches located on the nail plateOnycholysis Separation of the nail plate from nail bedSubungual hyperkeratosis Yellow and oily nails that result from raising the nail plate off the nail bed as result of deposition of keratinocytesSplinter haemorrhages Small, linear structures, 2–3 mm long, at the distal end of  nail plate

Nail pitting and onycholysis

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Nail pitting and onycholysis

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