Abstract

Background: Trachyonychia can be a manifestation of a pleomorphic group of disorders or can be idiopathic. The aim of this study to evaluated the clinico- epidemiological characteristics of trachonychia and possible etiologies.

Material & Methods: All consecutive patients with rough, thinned out nails involving more than five digits, seen over a period of 6 months were included in the study in the department of dermatology & VD in NIIMS Medical College, Jaipur. Detailed history was taken to find out age of onset and course of nail changes. Patients were clinically evaluated for evidence of any other skin lesions and biopsy was done if any significant skin lesion was found.

Results: The present study included 10 patients, who have average age of onset of disease was 20.1±14.835 yrs, clinical presentation was 23.9±13.295 yrs and duration of disease was 3.8±6.364 yrs. Male to female ratio in our study was 7:3. On clinical examination, 3 patients were found to have skin lesions/mucosal lesions. One patient was found to have erythematous plaques with silvery white scaling over extensor surface of both arms, second patient were found to have violaceous pruritic papules over right leg & third patient had erosive lesions on the right buccal mucosa with nail dystrophy in 14 nails which on biopsy again confirmed the diagnosis of Lichen Planus. In the remaining 7 patients we could not find the cause for trachyonychia hence we diagnose them as Idiopathic Trachyonychia.

Conclusion: We observed that trachyonychia is a chronic clinical condition that may present as an idiopathic finding or in association with many conditions, especially, psoriasis and lichen planus.

Keywords: Trachyonychia, Skin Biposy, Nail dystrophy, Lichen planus, Psoriasis.