Nail disorders in hemodialysis patients and renal transplant recipients: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
There is one published case-control study of nail disorders in hemodialysis patients. The nail changes that occur in renal transplant recipients have not been investigated specifically.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine prevalence rates of nail disorders in hemodialysis patients and renal transplant recipients, and to investigate whether these nail pathologies are related to hemodialysis and renal transplantation.


METHODS
One hundred and eighty-two hemodialysis patients and 205 renal transplant recipients were screened for the presence of nail disorders. The findings in these groups were compared with findings in 143 healthy individuals.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-seven patients (69.8%) in the hemodialysis group and 116 patients (56.6%) in the renal transplant recipients had at least one type of nail pathology. Absence of lunula, splinter hemorrhage, and half-and-half nails were significantly more common in the hemodialysis patients than in the renal transplant recipients. Leukonychia was significantly more frequent in the renal transplant recipients than in the hemodialysis patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Hemodialysis patients and renal transplant recipients have higher rates of nail disease than the healthy population. Renal transplantation may reduce the frequencies of splinter hemorrhage and half-and-half nails. Interestingly, leukonychia increases significantly after renal transplantation.
Saray
Yasemin
Y
Department of Dermatology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. yaseminsaray@hotmail.com
Seçkin
Deniz
D
Güleç
Ayse Tülin
AT
Akgün
Seval
S
Haberal
Mehmet
M
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*