ONYCHOLYSIS AS A COMPLICATION OF TAXANE-BASED CHEMOTHERAPY WITH CONCOMITANT CRYOTHERAPY IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS: TWO CASE REPORTS

Nail changes are a common side effect of taxane chemotherapy, although onycholysis is quite a rare complication the correct management of which is poorly standardized. These case reports provide a description and analysis of onycholysis, a rare but noteworthy complication observed during taxane-based chemotherapy with concomitant cryotherapy in two patients with breast cancer. Despite prophylactic measures, both cases experienced nail complications during Paclitaxel treatment, underlining the complex nature of onycholysis during taxane therapy and highlighting the critical role of nail assessment and infection screening.

Two case studies of the treatment of simple onycholysis with disappearing nail bed caused by trauma by combined pharmacological, orthonyxia and taping methods

BACKGROUND

Simple onycholysis is a common complaint after trauma and consists in separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. If untreated, prolonged onycholysis may cause a disappearing nail bed (DNB) that leads to the shortening or narrowing of the nail plate.

OBJECTIVES

This study is aimed at discussing possible treatment of chronic simple onycholysis with DNB by combined conservative methods.

METHODS

Simple onycholysis and DNB treatment consists of Onygen® cream application, nail bed massages, bracing procedures and nail folds taping with kinesio tape.

RESULTS

Long-lasting simple onycholysis with DNB may be fully eliminated by applying the combined pharmacological, orthonyxia and taping treatment.

CONCLUSION

Advanced simple onycholysis, which leads to the DNB and, in consequence, to the shortening or narrowing of the nail plate, causes cosmetic discomfort for patients. A damaged nail apparatus is also more susceptible to new traumas. Even long-standing onycholysis with DNB can be successfully treated with easy-to-apply conservative methods. The key point of therapy is the use of several methods of treatment with different effects on the nail apparatus. The effects of described therapy are highly satisfactory, the only drawback being its long term, which is caused by slow growth of the nails.

Onycholysis an early indicator of thyroid disease

Onycholysis is also referred to plummer's nails is a dermatological nail disorder characterized by spontaneous distal separation of the nail plate from the free margin and progressively proximally. We discuss a case of the 38-year-old man with onycholysis associated with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease. In this case review, we will discuss an association of onycholysis with thyroid disease and its diagnostic prognosis. Any unexplained onycholysis should prompt the clinician to investigate the client for asymptomatic hyperthyroidism.

Bidet nail syndrome: report of a typical case

Worn-down nail syndrome is a nail disorder characterized by thinning of the distal nail plate induced by repetitive mechanical trauma. A French variant, entitled "bidet nail syndrome" was first described by Baran.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis with nail changes and multisystem disease: a case report

Nail involvement in Langerhans cell histiocytosis is uncommon and is said to indicate a poor prognosis. We describe a 2-year-old boy with onycholysis, subungual hyperkeratosis, and hemorrhages on his fingernails. He also had hepatosplenomegaly and pulmonary involvement. The diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis was made by histopathologic examination of skin and liver.The role of nail involvement as an unfavorable prognostic sign is still unclear and this paper concludes that nail involvement in Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a possible sign of multisystemic involvement.

[POPP syndrome: Psoriatic onychopachydermoperiostitis]

Psoriatic onychopachydermoperiostitis (POPP) syndrome characterizes a clinical variant of psoriatic arthritis originally described by Fournie et al in 1989. Both great toes are generally affected presenting with nail changes, painful swelling of the soft tissue close to the distal phalanx as well as specific radiologic changes such as periosteal reaction and bone erosions of the distal phalanges. Joint involvement is characteristically absent and classic psoriatic lesions may be associated. Painful symptoms may lead to severe functional and quality of life impairment. Traditional systemic treatment is generally frustrating. Here we report a female patient presenting POPP syndrome refractory to traditional systemic treatments and adalimumab, further presenting a favorable response to treatment with etanercept.

[Assessment of psoriatic nail lesions therapy by means of nail psoriasis severity index]

The problem of psoriatic nail lesions is known for a long time. According to various authors, psoriatic onychodystrophy has been diagnosed in 15-78% of patients with psoriasis. At the same time, we know that the treatment of psoriatic nail lesions is not always successful. The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the drug onypso in the complex treatment of patients with psoriasis by means of NAPSI index. We observed 39 patients with psoriasis (20 men and 19 women at the age of 19 to 65 years with disease duration of 1 year to 25 years). The distribution of clinical manifestations of psoriatic onychodystrophy was as follow: thimble symptom -150 plates, subungual hyperkeratosis lesion type - 90 plates, onycholysis lesion type was observed in 50 plates. As a systemic treatment we used the cytostatic agent methotrexate - parenteral administration of 25 mg (once a week). In duration of total treatment course the patient received 90 -120 mg. Local treatment was provided by means of varnish onypso (once a day for 6 months). The survey revealed that at 7 weeks of treatment there was a 25 % reduction of initial value of NAPSI index, at the end of 14 weeks of therapy the above mentioned index was reduced for 50 % and at the 24 weeks for 75% respectively. It should be noted, that resolution of the cutaneous pathology was much faster than improvement of the structure of affected nail plates. Thus, drug onypso proposed for the specific treatment of nail lesions used in the complex therapy of patients with psoriasis is simple in use, accessible, compliant and highly effective. As a conclusion, we can say that NAPSI method, used to determine the extent of lesions and the effectiveness of the therapy, can objectively evaluate the dynamics of clinical pathology of the nails and adequacy of used treatment.

Ischemic onycholysis of the hands

Onycholysis is the distal and/or lateral separation of the nail from the nail bed. Although it can be idiopathic, there are several factors associated with the development of this condition. Ischemia is recognized as one of the possible causes, but this relationship has been poorly described in the literature. We report a case of onycholysis with a striking clinical picture and discuss the role of ischemia in the development of the lesions.

[Photo-onycholysis observed in connection with doxycycline for malaria prophylaxis]

We present two cases of phototoxic onycholysis secondary to doxycycline treatment as malaria prophylaxis. Onycholysis is a rare side-effect to treatment with doxycycline and other tetracyclines. Some physicians are unaware of this risk. Due to the increasing travel activity to malaria endemic regions, it is important to be aware of the side effects - including onycholysis - following the use of tetracyclines and it is essential to inform the patients of such effects. Spontaneous recovery follows within a few months after discontinuing the drug and there is no need for further treatment.

Painful nail lesions

A man, 58 years of age, presented with a 4 year history of painful lesions of his nails. His previous history included hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia. These were treated with enalapril, metformin and simvastatin respectively. He also had asymptomatic skin lesions for over 15 years that had worsened in the past 4 years. His father had similar nail lesions that had been diagnosed as onychomycosis.