Leukonychia
Other namesWhite nails or Milk spots[1]
SpecialtyDermatology

Leukonychia (or leuconychia) is a medical term for white discoloration appearing on nails.[2] It is derived from the Greek words leuko 'white' and onyx 'nail'. The most common cause is injury to the base of the nail (the matrix) where the nail is formed.

Types

Leukonychia totalis

Leukonychia totalis

This condition consists of a whitening of the entire nail and mostly likely occurs on all nails. Whitening of one, and only one, entire nail is not recognized as a symptom of Leukonychia totalis but as a likely result of mechanical trauma. Leukonychia totalis may be a clinical sign of hypoalbuminaemia (low albumin), which can be seen in nephrotic syndrome (a form of kidney failure), liver failure, protein malabsorption and protein-losing enteropathies. A genetic condition or a side effect from taking sulphonamides (a family of antibiotics) can also cause this appearance. By 2011, only 6 cases of non-hereditary Leukonychia totalis were published.[3]

In familial cases of leukonychia totalis, this condition is caused by mutations in the PLCD1 gene, in chromosome 3p22.2, this mutation shows an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, but in some cases, this condition may be autosomal recessive.[4]

Leukonychia partialis

Leukonychia partialis

This condition consists of a whitening of parts of the nail plate in the form of small white dots. There are three different variations of partial leukonychia; punctate, transverse and longitudinal leukonychia. Some of the more serious variations of leukonychia partialis may lead to leukonychia totalis.[5]

Leukonychia striata

Leukonychia striata

Leukonychia striata, transverse leukonychia, or Mees' lines are a whitening or discoloration of the nail in bands or "stria" that run parallel to the lunula (nail base). This is commonly caused by physical injury or disruption of the nail matrix. Common examples include excessive biting or tapping of the nails, trauma or injury from accidents involving doors or windows, and extensive use of manicure.[6] It may also occur in great toenails as a result of trauma from footwear. Alternatively, the condition can be caused by heavy metal poisoning, most commonly by lead.[7] Finally, it can be caused by cirrhosis of the liver or chemotherapy.[8]

The tendency toward leukonychia striata is sometimes inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. In other cases, it can be attributed to vigorous manicuring and trauma aforementioned, or to a wide variety of systemic illnesses. Serious infections known for high fevers, measles, malaria, herpes, and leprosy may also cause this condition. In many patients, there is no obvious cause, and the streaks resolve spontaneously.[9]

There is a similar condition called Muehrcke's lines (apparent leukonychia) which differs from leukonychia in that the lines fade with digital compression and do not migrate with the growth of the nail.[10]

Leukonychia punctata

Also known as "true" leukonychia, this is the most common form of leukonychia, in which small white spots appear on the nails. Picking and biting of the nails are a prominent cause in young children and nail biters. Besides parakeratosis, air that is trapped between the cells may also cause this appearance.[5] It is also caused by trauma. In most cases, when white spots appear on a single or a couple of fingernails or toenails, the most common cause is injury to the base (matrix) of the nail. When this is the case, white spots disappear after around eight months, which is the amount of time the nails take to regrow completely. The pattern and number of spots may change as the nail grows.[11]

Longitudinal leukonychia

Longitudinal leukonychia is far less common and features smaller 1mm white longitudinal lines visible under the nail plate and perpendicular to the nail bed. It may be associated with Darier's disease.[5]

Cause

Particularly large white spot.

It is harmless and most commonly caused by minor injuries, such as nail biting, or may which occur while the nail is growing.It so may be from calcium deficiency.[12] Leukonychia occurs most commonly in healthy individuals, and is unrelated to any known nutritional or physiological deficiency.[5] When caused by injury the marks will disappear as the nail grows outwards. While there are various sources that link dietary needs or vitamin deficiency with recurrent leukonychia,[13] this notion has been challenged by some medical researchers.[14]

Other possible reasons for this problem can be linked to:

Diagnosis

A doctor will take a thorough medical history, and may take blood tests as well as examining liver and kidney function. Intracellular (red blood cell) assays are more sensitive than tests for plasma levels.[17]

Treatment

Improvements have been reported from treating malnutrition associated with zinc deficiency and other minerals.[18][19]

References

  1. ↑ James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. (10th ed.). Saunders. p. 789. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.
  2. ↑ Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. pp. 658–59. ISBN 0-07-138076-0.
  3. ↑ Arsiwala, Shehnaz (2012). "Idiopathic acquired persistent true partial to total leukonychia". Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 78 (1): 107–8. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.90962. PMID 22199074.
  4. ↑ "Leukonychia totalis | Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – an NCATS Program".
  5. 1 2 3 4 Tüzün, Yalçın; Karakuş, Özge (2009). "Leukonychia" (PDF). Journal of Turkish Academy of Leukonychia: 1–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  6. ↑ Maino KL, Stashower ME (2004). "Traumatic Transverse Leukonychia". Skinmed. Medscape. 3 (1): 53–5. doi:10.1111/j.1540-9740.2004.02369.x. PMID 14724417.
  7. ↑ Baran R, de Berker DA, Holzberg M, Thomas L (2012). Baran and Dawber's Diseases of the Nails and their Management. John Wiley & Sons. p. 417. ISBN 9781118286708.
  8. ↑ Miles DW, Rubens RD (1995). "Images in clinical medicine. Transverse leukonychia". N. Engl. J. Med. 333 (2): 100. doi:10.1056/NEJM199507133330205. PMID 7777013.
  9. ↑ "Pictures of Nail Diseases and Problems - Leukonychia Striata".
  10. ↑ Huang, T.-C.; Chao, T.-Y. (14 December 2009). "Mees lines and Beau lines after chemotherapy". Canadian Medical Association Journal. 182 (3): E149. doi:10.1503/cmaj.090501. PMC 2826482. PMID 20008502.
  11. ↑ "My Big Fat Greek Leukonychia".
  12. ↑ Schocker, Laura (24 September 2013). "15 Things You Never Knew About Your Nails". HuffPost UK.
  13. ↑ "White Spots On Nails: Should You Be Worried?". CureJoy. 6 March 2018. They may also be caused by zinc or albumin deficiency, which is curable.
  14. ↑ Morgan, Z.; Wickett, H. (6 May 2011). "Leukonychia on finger nails as a marker of calcium and/or zinc deficiency". Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 24 (3): 294–295. doi:10.1111/j.1365-277X.2011.01175_23.x. The results showed there was no correlation between calcium or zinc intake scores and leukonychia.
  15. ↑ Rendon, Adriana; Schäkel, Knut (23 March 2019). "Psoriasis Pathogenesis and Treatment". International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 20 (6): 1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475. PMC 6471628. PMID 30909615.
  16. ↑ "Leukonychia – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Pictures". byebyedoctor.com. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
  17. ↑ Kelly MP, Kight MA, Castillo S (July 1998). "Trophic implications of altered body composition observed in or near the nails of hemodialysis patients". Advances in Renal Replacement Therapy. 5 (3): 241–51. doi:10.1016/S1073-4449(98)70037-8. PMID 9686635.
  18. ↑ Meyer, Bhika (November 2014). "Nails as Indicators of Disease" (PDF). Science of Medicine and Art of Care – via Tibb Institute.
  19. ↑ Wollina U, Nenoff P, Haroske G, Haenssle HA (July 2016). "The Diagnosis and Treatment of Nail Disorders". Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. 113 (29–30): 509–18. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0509. PMC 5527843. PMID 27545710.
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