terry's nails
Last reviewed 01/2018
- Terry's nails have a distinct white discoloration of the nail bed proximally
to the distal 1-2 mm of the distal edge - this leaves an exaggerated pink-brown
discoloration to the free edge of the nail (1)
- the nail loses its colour pattern if there is an application of pressure
- generally all nails are uniformly affected with a ground glass look (2)
- conditions where Terry's nails have been reported include:
- cirrhosis of the liver - usually 80% of cirrhosis patients presents with Terrry’s nails
- chronic congestive heart failure
- adult-onset diabetes mellitus
- HIV patients
- in haemodialysis and renal transplant patients - rarely (2)
Reference:
- (1) Zaiac MN, Daniel CR. Nails in systemic disease Dermatologic Therapy 2002;15 (2); 99?106.
- (2) Gregoriou S et al. Nail disorders and systemic disease: What the nails tell us. JFP 2008; 57(8)