Scoring nail psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
Scoring systems are indispensable in evaluating the severity of disease and monitoring treatment response.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the competence of various nail psoriasis severity scoring systems and to develop a new scoring system.


METHODS
The authors conducted a prospective, observational, single-point study of 36 patients given the diagnosis of fingernail psoriasis. Seven scoring systems were evaluated: Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI), modified NAPSI, target NAPSI, Psoriasis Nail Severity Score, Nail Area Severity, Baran, and Cannavò et al. All tools were correlated with the Physician Global Assessment. Obtained information was integrated into the Nijmegen-Nail psoriasis Activity Index tooL (N-NAIL), and interrater and intrarater reliability was assessed.


RESULTS
Physician Global Assessment showed an acceptable correlation with the scoring system designed by Baran (r = 0.735, P < .01) and the Psoriasis Nail Severity Score (r = 0.734, P < .01). Target NAPSI showed low correlation (r = 0.203, P > .05). The correlation between Physician Global Assessment and the N-NAIL was 0.861 (P < .01). Excellent agreement was found for the intrarater and interrater reliability of the N-NAIL.


CONCLUSIONS
Sample size was limited.


CONCLUSIONS
An adequate nail psoriasis scoring system is needed, as studies of treatments for nail psoriasis are on the horizon. Clinical severity of nail psoriasis was best reflected by the N-NAIL, followed by the Baran system and the Psoriasis Nail Severity Score.
Department of Dermatology, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: karlijn.klaassen@radboudumc.nl.
Karlijn M G
KM
Klaassen
Department of Dermatology, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Peter C M
PC
van de Kerkhof
Department of Dermatology, TweeSteden Ziekenhuis, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Maarten T
MT
Bastiaens
Department of Dermatology, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, The Netherlands.
Leon G J M
LG
Plusjé
Nail Disease Center, Cannes, France.
Robert L
RL
Baran
Department of Dermatology, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Marcel C
MC
Pasch
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Nail Psoriasis Severity Index; Nijmegen–Nail Psoriasis Activity Index Tool; assessment tool; nail psoriasis; psoriasis; scoring systems