Profile of Nail Disorders in Patients Presenting to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kashmir Valley

Introduction: Nail disorders comprise about 10% of alldermatological conditions. They may get involved invarious systemic diseases, infectious processes, nutritionaldeficiencies, ageing, genetic disorders, and neoplasms.Current study objective was to see the clinical pattern of nailchanges in patients presenting with various nail disorders andto determine the clinical pattern of nail involvement in variousdermatoses.Material and methods: This was a cross sectional study inwhich patients presenting to our department with any naildisorders were examined. A proper history, examination andthe relevant investigations like KOH, nail culture, and nailbiopsy were also done.Results: A total of 500 patients were screened, 282 femalesand 218 males. The most common nail change observed waslongitudinal ridging (45.6%), followed by distal subungualhyperkeratosis (35.8%) and cuticular changes (35.2%).Onychomycosis was the most common nail disorder observed,constituting 36.2% of all nails diseases. Among non infectivediseases, nail psoriasis was the most common nail disorderfollowed by nail lichen planus.Conclusion: A variety of nail changes can occur in variousdermatological and various other systemic disorders. So athorough clinical examination of nails is of prime importanceto correlate all these nail changes and to make dermatologiststo reach a conclusive diagnosis.

Intramatricial injections for nail psoriasis: An open-label comparative study of triamcinolone, methotrexate, and cyclosporine

Background: One of the most effective options available for treating psoriatic fingernails is intramatricial injection of triamcinolone acetonide. Efficacies of intramatricial methotrexate and cyclosporine have not been comparatively evaluated to date. Methods: Ninety fingernails in 17 patients were assigned to three groups of thirty nails each, and treated with intramatricial injections of triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/ml), methotrexate (25 mg/ml) and cyclosporine (50 mg/ml) respectively. Each nail was given two injections with a 6-week interval, and graded at 24 weeks using the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index. Results: In both triamcinolone acetonide and methotrexate groups, 15 (50%) nails out of 30 showed >75% improvement. In the cyclosporine group, only ten (33%) nails showed >75% improvement. Side effects were most in the nails treated with cyclosporine. Limitations: The limited follow-up period of 24 weeks may have been insufficient for detecting delayed remissions. The number of patients was small and there was no randomization or blinding. The lack of a placebo/ no- treatment arm can be considered a limitation. Conclusions: Amongst the three drugs studied, intramatricial methotrexate injection yielded the most improvement with minimum side effects, results being comparable to intramatricial triamcinolone acetonide injection. Cyclosporine was the least effective drug, with the most side effects. Intramatricial injection therapy is a safe, economical, simple and effective therapeutic modality in the management of nail psoriasis.

Intramatricial injections for nail psoriasis: An open-label comparative study of triamcinolone, methotrexate, and cyclosporine

Background: One of the most effective options available for treating psoriatic fingernails is intramatricial injection of triamcinolone acetonide. Efficacies of intramatricial methotrexate and cyclosporine have not been comparatively evaluated to date. Methods: Ninety fingernails in 17 patients were assigned to three groups of thirty nails each, and treated with intramatricial injections of triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/ml), methotrexate (25 mg/ml) and cyclosporine (50 mg/ml) respectively. Each nail was given two injections with a 6-week interval, and graded at 24 weeks using the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index. Results: In both triamcinolone acetonide and methotrexate groups, 15 (50%) nails out of 30 showed >75% improvement. In the cyclosporine group, only ten (33%) nails showed >75% improvement. Side effects were most in the nails treated with cyclosporine. Limitations: The limited follow-up period of 24 weeks may have been insufficient for detecting delayed remissions. The number of patients was small and there was no randomization or blinding. The lack of a placebo/ no- treatment arm can be considered a limitation. Conclusions: Amongst the three drugs studied, intramatricial methotrexate injection yielded the most improvement with minimum side effects, results being comparable to intramatricial triamcinolone acetonide injection. Cyclosporine was the least effective drug, with the most side effects. Intramatricial injection therapy is a safe, economical, simple and effective therapeutic modality in the management of nail psoriasis.

Could Psoriatic Arthritis Be Easily Diagnosed from Current Suspicious Physical Findings in the Dermatology Clinic?

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and clinical characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis are not well described in Asian populations, including Koreans. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PsA by using the classification of psoriatic arthritis (CASPAR) criteria on the basis of physical examination only, as well as its correlation with psoriasis severity and other medical conditions including nail psoriasis. METHODS: A single-center, cross-sectional observational cohort study was conducted, and the included patients were evaluated for PsA according to the CASPAR criteria. The psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and the nail psoriasis severity index (NAPSI) were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of PsA in patients with psoriasis in Korea was 13.5%. When performing logistic regression, hyperlipidemia and localized pustular psoriasis were found to be significant predictors of PsA. The PASI score was significantly higher in PsA patients than in those with psoriasis alone (p=0.014). Psoriatic nail involvement was found in 85.5% of the study population, and all PsA patients had nail psoriasis. The mean NAPSI score was higher in patients with PsA; however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: There was a close relation between psoriasis severity and PsA, although nail psoriasis severity was not related to PsA status. Dermatologists can diagnose PsA from current physical findings by using the CASPAR criteria. To validate the CASPAR criteria for PsA diagnosis, the definition of nail psoriasis clinical types and severity in the CASPAR criteria should be reviewed again.

Could Psoriatic Arthritis Be Easily Diagnosed from Current Suspicious Physical Findings in the Dermatology Clinic?

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and clinical characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis are not well described in Asian populations, including Koreans. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PsA by using the classification of psoriatic arthritis (CASPAR) criteria on the basis of physical examination only, as well as its correlation with psoriasis severity and other medical conditions including nail psoriasis. METHODS: A single-center, cross-sectional observational cohort study was conducted, and the included patients were evaluated for PsA according to the CASPAR criteria. The psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and the nail psoriasis severity index (NAPSI) were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of PsA in patients with psoriasis in Korea was 13.5%. When performing logistic regression, hyperlipidemia and localized pustular psoriasis were found to be significant predictors of PsA. The PASI score was significantly higher in PsA patients than in those with psoriasis alone (p=0.014). Psoriatic nail involvement was found in 85.5% of the study population, and all PsA patients had nail psoriasis. The mean NAPSI score was higher in patients with PsA; however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: There was a close relation between psoriasis severity and PsA, although nail psoriasis severity was not related to PsA status. Dermatologists can diagnose PsA from current physical findings by using the CASPAR criteria. To validate the CASPAR criteria for PsA diagnosis, the definition of nail psoriasis clinical types and severity in the CASPAR criteria should be reviewed again.

Qué debe saber el reumatólogo del compromiso de piel para el manejo de la artritis psoriática / Which must be known by the rheumatologist of the skin commitment for the management of psoriatic arthritis

La artritis psoriática es una patología inflamatoria crónica que puede afectar a articulaciones periféricas y/o axiales, las que pertenecen al “espectro psoriático”. Es una enfermedad subdiagnosticada y subtratada, que puede traer consecuencias funcionales, laborales y de calidad de vida en los individuos que la padecen. Se estima que el 30 por ciento de los pacientes con psoriasis presentan compromiso articular. Entre los factores de riesgo para desarrollarla se encuentran; psoriasis cutáneas severas, evolución prolongada de más de 10 años, obesidad y psoriasis ungueal. Esta última puede presentar alteraciones de la matriz y/o del lecho ungueal, las que se pueden manifestar aisladamente o en conjunto. El diagnóstico de la artritis psoriática y de la psoriasis ungueal puede representar un verdadero desafío. Es de gran relevancia el diagnóstico temprano y el tratamiento correcto, ya que permiten preservar una mejor funcionalidad y calidad de vida de los pacientes.

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory pathology that can affect both axial and peripheral joints, belonging to the “psoriatic spectrum”. It is an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition, which can bring functional, labor and quality of life consequences in individuals suffering from it. About 30 percent of patients with psoriasis also have joint involvement. Risk factors for developing the disease include severe cutaneous psoriasis of more than 10 years, obese patients and nail psoriasis. Within the nail psoriasis, there are manifestations of the nail matrix and the nail bed, which can be manifested in isolation or in conjunction. However, the differential diagnosis of these lesions and psoriatic arthritis itself can be a real challenge. Early diagnosis and correct treatment depend to a large extent on our patients having better functionality and quality of life.

Clinical Analysis of Nail Involvement in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that nail psoriasis is common in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, however, studies on the prevalence of PsA with nail psoriasis and the relationship between the severity of the diseases has not previously been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate nail psoriasis and its relation to psoriasis and PsA. METHODS: After researching past medical records, 48 patients with nail psoriasis and 247 patients without nail psoriasis were enrolled in this study. Nail psoriasis was classified according to the morphologic types of nails and severity was evaluated using the modified nail psoriasis severity score index (mNAPSI). We assessed the severity of psoriasis and PsA by psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), and swollen and tender joint counts (STJC), respectively. Finally, we analyzed the relationship between mNAPSI, PASI, and STJC. RESULTS: Nail involvement was observed in 48 (16.3%) of 295 patients. Prevalence of PsA was higher in nail psoriasis (31.3%) than in uncomplicated psoriasis (9.3%, p<0.001). mNAPSI showed a positive correlation with STJC (p=0.002, Pearson correlation=0.427), but not with PASI (p=0.094, Pearson correlation=0.202). CONCLUSION: The results show that PsA is more common and severe in psoriatic patients with nail involvement than in uncomplicated psoriasis. Clinicians should be alert to nail involvement in psoriatic patients, as it could be related to the disease course and prognosis of PsA.

Acometimento ungueal como única manifestação da psoríase e seu tratamento / Nail involvement as sole manifestation of psoriasis and it´s treatment: case report

A psoríase ungueal constitui uma das formas de apresentação da psoríase, uma doença imune inflamatória crônica, com acometimento de pele e articulações. Usualmente esta forma não apresenta uma resposta adequada ao tratamento, contudo novas estratégias terapêuticas têm sido propostas com sucesso. O acometimento ungueal é frequente, sendo descrito na literatura médica em até 90% dos casos no curso da doença, que pode preceder, ocorrer simultaneamente ou após o aparecimento das lesões cutâneas. Neste relato descrevemos um caso de apresentação atípica de psoríase ungueal adequadamente tratado com medicação tópica.

Psoriasis ungueal: experiencia con el tratamiento combinado de clobetasol al 8 por ciento en laca ungueal y calcipotriol / Combined clobetasol and calcipotriol treatment for nail psoriasis

La psoriasis ungueal es un problema común en los pacientes psoriáticos, con una incidencia de vida de 90%. A pesar de su alta incidencia y del gran impacto que produce en la calidad de vida, ha sido poco estudiada y el tratamiento óptimo aún no está bien dilucidado. Los corticoides tópicos y los análogos de la vitamina D son las terapias más usadas, pero no existe un esquema estándar para su uso. La combinación de estos agentes se ha estudiado en los últimos años para pacientes con afectación de la matriz y del lecho ungueal, mostrando muy buenos resultados. El caso que presentamos demuestra la sinergia entre estos agentes.

Nail psoriasis is a common problem among psoriatic patients, with a lifetime incidence of 90%. Despite its high incidence and severe impact on the quality of life, it has not been fully studied and the optimal treatment is still unclear. Topical glucocorticosteroids and vitamin D analogues are the most used therapies, but there is no standard therapeutic regimen for their use. The combination of both of these agents has been studied during the last years for the treatment of patients with matrix and bed nail compromise, showing very good results. The case that we present shows the synergy between these agents.