Korean J Dermatol.  1985 Feb;23(1):45-50.

Clinical Observation of Nail Changes in Systemic Diseases: I. Chronic Renal Failure

• Kim SH
• Joh GY
• Lee YS
• Kim SG

Abstract

The present study was performed to evaluate the characteristics and incidence of the nail changes in chronic renal failure patients. Sixty-six patients who were admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine between March and December, 19R3 and thirtyn'ine patients who were receiving hemodialysis therapy at the hemodialysis unit during June, 1983 in Seoul National University Hospital, were examined. The results were as follows; 1. The brown band just proximal to the free margin of the nail is a frequent nail change in chronic renal failure patients. The term half-and-half nail can be used when the band is wide enough to call it half and the term brown distal arc may be apposite for the whole. 2 .Among the 66 admitted patients, 21 cases(31.8%,) had half-and-half nails,26 cases(39.5%) had brown arcs and 3 cases(4.5%) had white nails. Overall the brown distal arc was present in 47 cases(71.2%,). 3, Among the 39 patients receiving hemodialysis, 3 casesp. 7p,) had half-and-half nails, 9 cases(23. 1%) had brown arcs and 5 cases(23,l%) had white nails. The brown distal arc was present in 12 cases(30.8%) over all. 4. There was no correlation between the level of impaired renal function and the presence or the width of a brown distal arc.

MeSH Terms

Humans
Incidence
Internal Medicine
Kidney Failure, Chronic*
Renal Dialysis
Seoul