[A favourable outcome in yellow nail syndrome: role of respiratory physiotherapy]

[Article in French]

Fournier C, Just N, Leroy S, Wallaert B.

Service de Pneumolgie et Immuno-allergologie, Clinique des Maladies Respiratoires, Hopital Calmette, CHRU Lille, France.

INTRODUCTION: The yellow nail syndrome is a rare condition that is easily diagnosed but the nail manifestations are poorly understood. CASE REPORT: A 51 year old patient presented with a chronic cough. The diagnosis was based on the typical appearance of the nails. The patient had bilateral basal bronchiectasis. Daily physiotherapy with bronchial drainage lead to a progressive improvement in the respiratory symptoms without recourse to antibiotics. Surprisingly the abnormalities of the nails disappeared after 2 years treatment. CONCLUSION: This observation illustrates the possibility of spontaneous resolution of severe nail abnormalities during the course of the yellow nail syndrome.

Source: Rev Mal Respir. 2003 Dec;20(6 Pt 1):969-72.

PMID: 14743102 [PubMed - in process]