An autosomal-dominant disease characterized by absent/hypoplastic and easily dislocated patellae,
skeletal abnormalities, nephropathy, glaucoma, and fingernail dysplasia. This consists of slow nail growth,
with a “heaped-up” or thickened appearance, excessive transverse curvature, loss of the lunula, and a
yellowish/greenish discoloration. Eventually, the nail thickens and may even detach. Yellow/green nails may
result from any condition that slows nail growth (such as infection, like Pseudomonas) or impedes lymphatic
circulation. Hence, they have been associated with lymphedema of the extremities or face. They also have
been linked to respiratory involvement (including chronic bronchiectasis or sinusitis), pleural effusions,
internal malignancies, immunodeficiency syndromes, and rheumatoid arthritis (usually as a result of thiol
drugs, such as bucillamine and gold sodium thiomalate). Microvascular hyperpermeability with
protein leakage would explain the link of yellow nail syndrome with infection, hypoalbuminemia, pleural
effusion, and lymphedema.
skeletal abnormalities, nephropathy, glaucoma, and fingernail dysplasia. This consists of slow nail growth,
with a “heaped-up” or thickened appearance, excessive transverse curvature, loss of the lunula, and a
yellowish/greenish discoloration. Eventually, the nail thickens and may even detach. Yellow/green nails may
result from any condition that slows nail growth (such as infection, like Pseudomonas) or impedes lymphatic
circulation. Hence, they have been associated with lymphedema of the extremities or face. They also have
been linked to respiratory involvement (including chronic bronchiectasis or sinusitis), pleural effusions,
internal malignancies, immunodeficiency syndromes, and rheumatoid arthritis (usually as a result of thiol
drugs, such as bucillamine and gold sodium thiomalate). Microvascular hyperpermeability with
protein leakage would explain the link of yellow nail syndrome with infection, hypoalbuminemia, pleural
effusion, and lymphedema.