Change of the Growth Rate of the Great Toenail in Patients with Onychomycosis According to Systemic Antifungal Medication

Yeo, Kwang Yeoll; Kim, Jeong Soo; Kim, Jae Hong; Yu, Hee Joon

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Onychomycosis is one of the most common diseases of nails, accounting for 50% of all nail problems and a recent rise in the prevalence of onychomycosis has been noted. It has been known that the growth rate of nails is influenced by age, sex, seasonal factor, individual health and familial tendency. Several drugs, also, have been known to influence the growth rate of nails. OBJECTIVE: We want to know the influence of antifungal drug, itraconazole and terbinafine that used widespread recently, to the growth rate of nail. METHODS: This study was performed the 41 patients with distal subungal onychomycosis affecting only one sided great toenail and affected area more than 50%. The growth rate of the affected and the unaffected toenails in the same patients according to the medication of itraconazole or terbinafine was measured. Also, the growth rate of nails in 36 people with normal toenail was measured. RESULTS: No growth rate differences were seen in comparing the great toenails affected to onychomycosis in itraconazole and terbinafine group (p> 0.05). Also no growth rate differences were seen in great toenails not affected to onychomycosis in itraconazole and terbinafine group and no growth rate differences with the toenails of normal control (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: There was no difference of itraconazole or terbinafine to the growth rate of nail. Even though there was no statistical significance, the possibility of the drug effect as normal nail growth became faster with the antifungal medication can not be excluded. So study with comparison of nail growth rate before and after antifungal medication will be needed in the future.