Beau's lines. A case report.
Beau's lines are a depression of the nail surface associated with a severe disturbance which temporarily interferes with the rate of nail growth. They appear several weeks or more after incurrence of the damage and continue to extend during nail growth. These lines were observed soon after birth in all twenty fingernails of an infant girl. The depression extended through the whole thickness of the nails. This would appear to be the first reported case in which Beau's lines have developed so early in life, probably as a result of intrauterine distress.
D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy