Yellow Nail Syndrome Might Respond to Vitamin E Therapy

This relatively harmless and inexpensive option warrants consideration.

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare disorder. In previous reports, this condition has been associated with pulmonary disease and lymphedema. These authors retrospectively analyzed 21 patients who received a diagnosis of YNS over a 28-year period in a specialty clinic for nail disorders. These patients represented 0.13% of patients seen in the clinic. The authors reviewed the patients' associated conditions and looked for the presence of concomitant cutaneous or systemic disease.

Pulmonary disease was present in 16 patients, 10 of whom had pulmonary disease only and 6 of whom had pulmonary disease and lymphedema. Concomitant dermatophyte infection was present in 5 of 12 patients in whom cultures were obtained. Therapy with vitamin E (1200 IU…

Reviewing Author

Jeffrey P. Callen, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board XOMA; Eli Lilly; Celgene

Equity Various trust accounts

Editorial boards JAMA Dermatology; UpToDate

Leadership positions in professional societies Association of Professors of Dermatology (President-Elect)