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Copyright (C) 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

834:
Yellow Nail Syndrome

General Discussion

** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only.  It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes.  If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.

Yellow Nail Syndrome is characterized by yellow, thickened and curved
nails with almost complete stoppage of nail growth.  A loss of cuticles may
also be associated with this syndrome.  Loosening of the nails (onycholysis)
may cause loss of some of the nails.  Yellow Nail Syndrome is often
associated with respiratory diseases and edema (fluid in the tissue causing
swelling).

Symptoms

Yellow Nail Syndrome is characterized by slow growing, yellow, thickened
nails with a loss of cuticles.  The nails may become convex and loose.  This
condition is usually associated with plural effusion (fluid filled lungs) or
lymphedema (fluid filled lymphatic vessels) of the extremities.  Edema
(swelling) of the legs as well as facial edema may also be present.

Respiratory diseases such as bronchiectasis (chronic inflammation or
degenerative condition of the bronchi and bronchioles), bronchitis (chronic
inflammation of the bronchial tubes) and sinusitis (inflammation of the
membrane lining the sinus) may also occur with Yellow Nail Syndrome.

Causes

The exact cause of Yellow Nail Syndrome is not known, but it is often
associated with respiratory infections which indicates that the immune system
may be involved.

Affected Population

Women may be afflicted with this syndrome more often than men and the onset
varies from birth to the eighties.

Therapies:  Standard

There is no known treatment for Yellow Nail Syndrome, but the nails may
improve when the related disorder is treated.

Therapies:  Investigational

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
February 1991.  Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to
keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and
accurate.  Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for
the most current information about this disorder.

Resources

For more information on Yellow Nail Syndrome, please contact:

     National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
     P.O. Box 8923
     New Fairfield, CT  06812-1783
     (203) 746-6518

     American Lung Association
     1740 Broadway
     New York, NY  10019
     (212) 315-8700

     NIH/National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute (NHBLI)
     9000 Rockville Pike
     Bethesda, MD  20892
     (301) 496-4236

References

CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th Ed.:  James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H.
Smith, Jr., Editors; W.B. Saunders Co., 1988.  Pp. 2347.

PULMONARY DISEASES and DISORDERS, 2nd Ed.  Vol. 1:  Alfred P. Fishman,
M.D.; McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1988.  Pp. 374.

CLINICAL DERMATOLOGY, 2nd Ed.:  Thomas P. Habif, M.D.; The C.V. Mosby Co.,
1990.  Pp. 632.

PLURAL EFFUSION ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY LYMPHEDEMA:  A PERSPECTIVE ON THE
YELLOW NAIL SYNDROME:  D.J. Beer, et al.; Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. (March, 1978,
issue 117 (3).  Pp. 595-599.

YELLOW NAIL SYNDROME:  G.P. Pavvlidakey, et al.; J. Am. Acad. Dermatol.
(September, 1984, issue 11 (3)).  Pp. 509-12.