title: Idiopathic splinter hemorrhages.
abstract: Splinter hemorrhages are non-blanchable usually distal reddish-brown linear hemorrhages beneath the nails. Among a variety of etiologic factors reported, trauma is the most common cause. A 26-year-old Hispanic female presented with asymptomatic, extensive fingernail hemorrhages of two months duration. There was no history of physical trauma to the nails. Treatment with a topical antifungal medication for one month produced no improvement. The past medical history was noncontributory. Extensive laboratory testing revealed no underlying systemic disease. Three months after the initial presentation, 6 of 10 fingernails showed signs of resolution without treatment. We conclude that idiopathic atraumatic subungual splinter hemorrhages can occur in healthy individuals. Spontaneous resolution occurred in our patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Rao N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Saladi
authors.forename: Andrea N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Persaud
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rudikoff
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous