title: Dermoscopy to Detect Signs of Subclinical Nail Involvement in Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: A Study of 68 Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Onychopathies constitute one of the major challenges faced by a dermatologist in terms of its early detection and diagnosis. Utility of dermoscope as a tool for detection is increasing by the day and its use in onychopathies needs to be explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the dermoscopic features of nails in patients of chronic plaque psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, a total of 68 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were recruited. Dermoscopy of nail plate was conducted and were compared with equal number of age and sex matched healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six patients showed dermoscopic findings. Twenty-two patients did not show any dermoscopic findings. Coarse pits (18/46, P < 0.0001), onycholysis (10/46, P < 0.001), oil drop sign (2/46, P = 0.12) and splinter hemorrhages (5/46, P = 0.05) were seen. In addition certain findings of interest were stout, globose, dilated, pink- to red-colored nail bed vessels arranged longitudinally at the onychodermal band surrounded by a prominent halo (9/46, P = 0.01). In contrast, splinter hemorrhages appeared as streaks and were purple in color.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a psoriasis patient, dermoscope can be a useful tool to detect early nail involvement in psoriasis and aid in differentiating it from other disorders of nails.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seth G.S Medical College and K.E.M Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Tulika A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seth G.S Medical College and K.E.M Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Uday S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Khopkar
keywords: Dermoscopy; nail; psoriasis