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Transient yellow discoloration of the nails for differential diagnosis with yellow nail syndrome

Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases volume 12, Article number: 159 (2017) Cite this article

Abstract

A differential diagnosis must be made between transient yellow discoloration of the nails and yellow nail syndrome. We highlight some practical aspects of yellow nail discoloration.

Sir,

We read with great interest the article by Vignes et al. recently published by the journal [1].

We would like to add some practical issues related to differential diagnosis of yellow nail discoloration.

A differential diagnosis must be made between transient yellow discoloration of the nails and yellow nail syndrome.

Yellow discoloration of the nails has been reported as an adverse reaction after some drugs such as: quinaqrine used for cutaneous lupus erythematosus [2], after topical use of 5-fluorouracil for the treatment of nail psoriasis (Fig. 1) [3], temsirolimus [4], or bucillamine for rheumatoid arthritis [5], retinoids [6] (Fig. 2). Furthermore, yellow discoloration of the nails has been described during hemodialysis [7], in patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma [8]. Yellow nails can be also observed in patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (Fig. 3a, b) [9], tobacco-associated use (Fig. 4), or after intense use of nail polish remover (Fig. 5). In recent years, skin adverse reactions induced by cetuximab have been lately reported; cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) used in the treatment of colorectal cancer [10]. Recently, yellowish distal discoloration was observed in our department in a 67-year-old female patient treated with cetuximab for colorectal cancer (Fig. 6).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Diffuse yellow discoloration of the nail plate in a case of nail psoriasis treated with topical 5-fluorouracil (close view)

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Yellowish discoloration of finger nails in a teenager while treated with systemic isotretinoin for acne

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Fig. 3
figure 3

“Diabetic yellow nails” (a) and yellow-green discoloration of a nail in a diabetic patient due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection (b)

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Fig. 4
figure 4

Tobacco associated yellow nails

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Fig. 5
figure 5

Transient yellow discoloration as a result of nail polish remover (acetone)

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Fig. 6
figure 6

Distal yellowish discoloration of the nail during treatment with cetuximab

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References

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Acknowledgements

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Nicolina Medical Center, Iasi, Romania

    Anca Chiriac

  2. Department of Dermato-Physiology, Apollonia University Iasi, Iasi, Romania

    Anca Chiriac

  3. “P.Poni” Research Institute, Romanian Academy, București, Romania

    Anca Chiriac

  4. Department of Foreign Languages, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures, Tirgu Mures, Romania

    Adrian Naznean

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Street, 540139, Tirgu Mures, Romania

    Cristian Podoleanu

  6. Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures, Tirgu Mures, Romania

    Simona Stolnicu

Authors
  1. Anca Chiriac
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  2. Adrian Naznean
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  3. Cristian Podoleanu
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  4. Simona Stolnicu
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Contributions

AC contributed to the management of the patients, the conception of the work and the analysis of data. AN drafted the work, contributed to the proofreading and revising the manuscript. CP contributed to the management of the patients and has been involved in revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content. SS contributed to the conception of the work and gave final approval of the version to be published. All Authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cristian Podoleanu.

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Chiriac, A., Naznean, A., Podoleanu, C. et al. Transient yellow discoloration of the nails for differential diagnosis with yellow nail syndrome. Orphanet J Rare Dis 12, 159 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-017-0711-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-017-0711-4

Keywords

  • Yellow nail syndrome
  • Yellow discoloration
  • Nail

Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases

ISSN: 1750-1172