Yellow nail syndrome: a series of two clinical cases and review of the literature

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Abstract

Yellow nail syndrome is a rare disease of unknown etiology, characterized by damage to the lung parenchyma and nail apparatus. The etiopathogenesis of the disease remains unclear. There are no precise epidemiological data on the disease due to its low incidence. The clinical picture that allows one to suspect this disease is a combination of changes in the color of the nail plates, lymphedema and such pulmonary manifestations as the presence of bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, recurrent pleural effusion, pneumonia, disseminated processes in the lungs. Yellow nail syndrome is a serious interdisciplinary problem in terms of both diagnosis and therapy of this group of patients. There are no approved treatments for yellow nail syndrome. This disease can resolve on its own within a few months if it is not associated with any paraneoplastic syndrome. The article presents a series of two clinical cases with an established diagnosis of yellow nail syndrome, highlights currently known data on the etiopathogenesis and clinical picture of the disease, and examines issues of its diagnosis and treatment.

About the authors

Tatyana A. Gosteva

Kurchatov Center for Modern Medicine

Author for correspondence.
Email: gosteva.t.tatyana@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0059-9159
Russian Federation, Kurchatov, Kursk Region

Victoria M. Kleuzovich

LLC “Divo”

Email: Victoriakleuzovich@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-9593-5892
Russian Federation, Podolsk, Moscow Region

Roman V. Saraniuk

IC“Derma Expert”

Email: roman.saranuk@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9676-1581
Russian Federation, Kursk

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Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
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2. Fig. 1. Nail lesions and lymphedema in yellow nail syndrome: marked edema of the lower extremities (lymphedema) combined with thickening and loss of transparency of the nail plates: a — left foot; б — right foot

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3. Fig. 2. Xanthonychia, onycholysis, thickening and loss of transparency of fingernail plates in a patient with yellow nail syndrome: a — left hand; б — right hand

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4. Fig. 3. Marked thickening, loss of nail translucency and onycholysis in a patient with yellow nail syndrome: a — right foot; б — right hand

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Copyright (c) 2024 Gosteva T.A., Kleuzovich V.M., Saraniuk R.V.

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