Nail changes in patients with liver disease

Abstract

Nail changes are observed with not only liver cirrhosis but also with HCV and HBV infection, and this will add additional clinical criteria for general practitioners and dermatologists to help them with diagnosis of these common systemic infections.

A Clinical Study of Cutaneous Manifestations in Liver Diseases

“…Nail changes were seen in 72% of patients. Salem et al 13 2010 in his study showed that nail changes were present in 68% of patients. The most common being Terry's nail seen in 75 % cases.…”

“…Onychomycosis was seen in 50% cases as second common manifestation. Salem et al 13 in his study showed that among nail changes: onychomycosis was the most common finding seen in 18% cases followed by in descending order, longitudinal striations, brittle nails, clubbing of nails, dystrophic nails, leukonychia and longitudinal melanonychia. Leukonychia, brittle nails and clubbing was seen in 12.…”

Dermatological manifestations of chronic liver disease

“…Salem et al and Gavli et al in their studies showed nail changes in 68% and 72% of patients respectively. 15,19 The most common finding in our study was Terry's nails, seen in 17% cases, followed by longitudinal ridging which was seen in 16% of the patients. Other major findings included dystrophic nails (12%), Beau's lines (10%), clubbing (10%), brittle nails (8%), onychomycosis (5%) and longitudinal melanonychia (5%).…”

“…16 In a study done by Salem et al, 18% of the patients had onychomycosis, 10% of the patients had brittle nails, 7% cases had clubbing and 6% had dystrophic nails. 19 Gavli et al found Terry's nails in 75% cases followed by onychomycosis in 50% cases. 15 Muehrcke's nails were not reported in the studies done by Salem et al, Niaz et al and Gavli et al 14,15,19 50% of the patients in our study had hair changes and some had more than one change.…”

“…19 Gavli et al found Terry's nails in 75% cases followed by onychomycosis in 50% cases. 15 Muehrcke's nails were not reported in the studies done by Salem et al, Niaz et al and Gavli et al 14,15,19 50% of the patients in our study had hair changes and some had more than one change. The most common finding was thinning of hairs (50%), followed by loss of axillary and pubic hair in 12% cases.…”