title: Clinical observations on nail changes in psoriasis.
abstract: 410 cases of psoriasis [282 males (68%) and 127 females (31%)] were interviewed and examined to study the nail changes. The prevalence of nail changes was 78.0% (males = females). Common changes were pitting (67.5%) and onycholysis (67.2%). Dystrophy of varying degrees occurred in 35.0%, subungual hyperkeratosis in 24.7%, discoloration in 18.4%, loss of nails in 2.8% and pustulation in 1.3%. Pitting and onycholysis was the most common combination (45.6%). Nail changes were significantly more common in patients who have moderate to severe psoriasis as compared with patients with mild psoriasis; in patients who have psoriasis for greater than 5 years as compared with patients who have psoriasis for less than 5 years; and in patients older than age 50 as compared with those aged less than 50. A definite correlation was found between the prevalence of nail changes and the presence of scalp and periungual psoriasis, and the presence of joint involvement.
authors.affiliation: Middle Road Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Tham
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chiew
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications*; D012846:Singapore