Yellow Nail Syndrome: A Case Presentation and a Review of Management Options.

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) has traditionally been thought of as a triad of exudative pleural effusion, yellow nails, and lymphedema. More recently, in addition to the hallmark yellowish nail discoloration, the diagnostic criteria required an associated lymphedema and/or chronic respiratory manifestations including pleural effusions, bronchiectasis or chronic sinusitis. Etiology remains unknown and treatment is supportive and directed towards patient's specific complaints. While described alongside multiple endocrine, lymphatic and autoimmune disorders, its most ominous association is malignancy, raising YNS as a possible paraneoplastic condition. Here we present the case of an 80 years-old female with worsening restrictive airway disease and acquired yellow nails, with development of dyspnea, cough and leg edema. Recurrent exudative lymphocyte predominant pleural effusion was treated definitively with pleurodesis. Her leg edema and yellow nails were treated conservatively. We describe previous case reports and series in the literature, outline therapeutic options and discuss prognosis.

The color of skin: yellow diseases of the skin, nails, and mucosa.

The colors reflected from the skin are important indicators of dermatologic and systemic disorders. Incident light is subject to absorption by chromophores in the skin and scattering. Chromophores associated with yellow light reflection include the carotenoids and bilirubin. Various pathophysiologic mechanisms associated with these and other chromophores manifest with a yellow hue on examination. This review describes these mechanisms and the clinical features of yellow skin disorders by morphology. A brief summary of the differential diagnosis, laboratory investigations, and treatments are presented. Yellow skin disorders are a heterogenous group composed of abnormalities in keratin, elastic and connective tissue, lipid metabolism, and other states of metabolic, inflammatory, or organ dysfunction. Patients will present through different routes, and skin disease may precede or follow systemic disease. Dermatologists have an essential role in identifying those with malignant or systemic associations to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.

Yellow nail syndrome with chylothorax after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Yellow nail syndrome is a rare condition considered secondary to functional anomalies of lymphatic drainage. Yellow nail syndrome is diagnosed through the triad of intrathoracic findings (30% being pleural effusions), nail discoloration, and lymphedema, with any two features sufficient for diagnosis. We report the second case of post-operative yellow nail syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: After coronary artery bypass grafting, our patient presented with chylothorax on post-operative day 13 and yellow toenail discoloration on post-operative day 28, diagnosing yellow nail syndrome. Initial conservative management with pigtail catheter drainage and low-fat diet with medium-chain triglycerides reduced chylous drainage from 350 mL/day on post-operative day 14 to < 100 mL/day on post-operative day 17. However, by post-operative day 18, drainage returned to 350 mL/day that persisted despite attempts to readjust the catheter position, replacement of catheter with chest tube, and transition to total parenteral nutrition and octreotide while nil per os. Lymphangiogram on post-operative day 32 did not identify the thoracic duct or cisterna chyli, precluding embolization. Talc and doxycycline pleurodeses performed on post-operative days 33 and 38, respectively, resolved his chylothorax and nail discoloration. CONCLUSIONS: Both yellow nail syndrome and chylothorax as a complication of coronary artery bypass grafting are rare entities. The proposed mechanism of post-operative chylothorax is iatrogenic injury to thoracic duct or collateral lymphatic vessels. Diagnosing yellow nail syndrome in patients with post-operative chylothorax (through co-existing yellow nail discoloration and/or lymphedema) may suggest predisposition to impaired lymphatic drainage, portending a difficult recovery and potentially indicating need for surgical management.

The Development of Yellow Nail Syndrome after the Implantation of a Permanent Cardiac Pacemaker.

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is characterized by yellowish nails, lymphedema, sinusitis, and pulmonary involvement and can be triggered by various underlying conditions, such as sinusitis or titanium exposure from an artificial joint or dental implant. Since YNS is potentially treatable, its timely diagnosis is important. The authors recently experienced a case of YNS in a patient who developed sinusitis, yellowish nails, bilateral edema of the extremities, and subclinical rheumatoid arthritis after the implantation of a cardiac pacemaker made from titanium. This case may be the first report of YNS induced by a titanium cardiac pacemaker.

Yellow nail syndrome: a case report and review of treatment options.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Yellow nail syndrome is a rare disorder involving characteristic nail changes, lymphedema and chronic respiratory symptoms. Currently there is no definitive treatment and there have been no prospective randomised controlled trials evaluating the available options. In order to strengthen the literature on this topic, we present the case of a 67-year-old man with YNS and a detailed review of current treatment options. METHODS: We included 40 articles for the final review according to their relevance with the subject. RESULTS: Data for use of the commonly chosen therapies for YNS remains inconclusive, with small studies and case reports showing mixed results of efficacy. CONCLUSION: Although the date indicates that it is reasonable to recommend a trial of conservative therapy including vitamin E, antibiotics and compression stockings before pursuing more aggressive or invasive modalities, larger scale studies are required to determine the true efficacy of all treatment options.

Bronchiectasis in yellow nail syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare and poorly described disease process. In this case-control study, clinical features and findings on HRCT were compared with idiopathic bronchiectasis (IBx). METHODS: A review of all patients attending an adult bronchiectasis clinic between 2007 and 2013 identified 25 YNS patients. IBx patients were matched in a 2:1 ratio for age, duration of symptoms and gender. RESULTS: Median age of onset was 53 years. There were 12 male and 23 Caucasian YNS patients. Respiratory manifestations included chronic productive cough (100%), chronic rhinosinusitis (88%), pleural effusions (20%) and lymphoedema (12%). Chest symptoms preceded yellow nails in the majority (68%). Abnormal nails persisted at follow-up in 23 of 25 patients but improved in 14. In both disorders, there was symmetrical, predominantly lower lobe bronchiectasis on HRCT. Extent (P = 0.04), severity (P = 0.03) and bronchial wall thickness (P = 0.05) scores were lower in YNS, with less upper and middle lobe disease. Multivariate analysis showed an independent association with increased mucus plugging in YNS. There was a similar prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and mild lung function abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Bronchiectasis in YNS is less severe than IBx but is associated with increased mucus plugging, onset is in middle age and there is no female predominance. Treatment targeted at improved secretion clearance may improve both chest and nail symptoms, with consideration of long-term macrolide antibiotics.

A curious case of yellow nail syndrome.

The Yellow Nail Syndrome is a rare clinical entity, first described in 1967 by P.D. Samman and W.F. White. The triad slow-growing dystrophic yellow nails, lymphedema and chronic respiratory disorders is the typical manifestation of the disease but some variations have been described as well as associations with chylothorax, chylous ascites, intestinal lymphangiectasia, thyroid abnormalities, malignancies and immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency. We present a case of a 55-years-old woman that had an insidious onset of respiratory disorders and chronic sinusitis, suspected to be infectious throughout the hospitalizations, associated with therapeutically neglected autoimmune thyroiditis.

Characteristics of patients with yellow nail syndrome and pleural effusion.

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) can be associated with a pleural effusion (PE) but the characteristics of these patients are not well defined. We performed a systematic review across four electronic databases for studies reporting clinical findings, PE characteristics, and most effective treatment of YNS. Case descriptions and retrospective studies were included, unrestricted by year of publication. We reviewed 112 studies (150 patients), spanning a period of nearly 50 years. The male/female ratio was 1.2/1. The median age was 60 years (range: 0-88). Seventy-eight percent were between 41-80 years old. All cases had lymphoedema and 85.6% had yellow nails. PEs were bilateral in 68.3%. The appearance of the fluid was serous in 75.3%, milky in 22.3% and purulent in 3.5%. The PE was an exudate in 94.7% with lymphocytic predominance in 96% with a low count of nucleated cells. In 61 of 66 (92.4%) of patients, pleural fluid protein values were >3 g/dL, and typically higher than pleural fluid LDH. Pleurodesis and decortication/pleurectomy were effective in 81.8% and 88.9% of cases, respectively, in the treatment of symptomatic PEs. The development of YNS and PE occurs between the fifth to eighth decade of life and is associated with lymphoedema. The PE is usually bilateral and behaves as a lymphocyte-predominant exudate. The most effective treatments appear to be pleurodesis and decortication/pleurectomy.

[Enigmatic lymphatic diseases involving the lung]. / Pathologies énigmatiques des lymphatiques comportant une atteinte pulmonaire.

Lymphedema associated with other developmental malformations (Milroy syndrome, Hennekam syndrome, Noonan syndrome, Gorham-Stout syndrome, yellow nail syndrome) are unfrequent disease, but explorations led to the identification of genetic mutations that have then been validated in mouse models. However, lymphatic vessels complexity and its proximity with the venous system suggest the need for further researches, especially in the comprehension of pulmonary symptoms.

Classification of vascular disorders in the skin and selected data on new evaluation and treatment.

Cutaneous vascular disorders are common. They include arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels, or a mixture of them. In this review, we discuss classification, new developments in understanding and treatment of vascular diseases. We focus on infantile hemangiomas and drug therapy, vasculitides with new vasculitic syndromes, yellow nail syndrome and localized lymphatic malformations. Benign cutaneous vascular lesions may be a sign of severe internal diseases. In many cases multidisciplinary treatment is important. The dermatologist can often act as a pilot for these patients.

Yellow nail syndrome: treatment of lymphedema using low pressure compression.

The present report describes a case with the triad of yellow nail syndrome (YNS) and the use of low-pressure compression pump as treatment of lymphedema in YNS. A 71-year-old woman presented with bilateral lower extremity lymphedema, yellow nails, and recurrent bilateral pleural effusion. In this case, we specifically focused on lymphedema treatment of the legs besides other recommendations for YNS.

Yellow nails, lymphedema and chronic cough: yellow nail syndrome in an eight-year-old girl.

Yellow nail syndrome is a rare disease and reported mainly in adults. A case of yellow nail syndrome involving an eight-year-old girl with associated discoloured yellowish nails on the fingers and toes, lymphedema and chronic cough, and sputum production is reported.

T and B cell deficiency associated with yellow nail syndrome.

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare disorder of unknown aetiology that is characterized by yellow nails associated with lymphoedema and chronic respiratory manifestations. There are no detailed immunological studies in YNS. In this study, we present first extensive immunological analysis of both adaptive and innate immunity in two patients with YNS. One patient has common variable immunodeficiency, whereas second patient has specific antibody deficiency syndrome. Severe lymphopaenia, a striking deficiency of naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and total B cells, and increased transitional B cells were observed. T cell proliferative response to mitogens and antigens was significantly reduced in both patients. Both patients failed to make specific antibody response to pneumococci. Complement, natural killer cell activity and neutrophil oxidative burst were normal. Immunoglobulin administration resulted in decreased frequency and severity of infections, and an impressive effect was observed on lymphoedema and on the recurrence of pleural effusion. Our data show that YNS is associated with both T and B cell defects. Furthermore, Immunoglobulin may be beneficial in clinical manifestations of lymphoedema.

Update on uncommon pleural effusions.

Although infections, malignancies and heart failure are responsible for the majority of pleural effusions, there are many other causes and several uncommon but distinctive types of pleural fluid. For this update we have chosen several uncommon forms of pleural effusions or disorders in which there have been recent advances in our understanding over the past several years. Chylothorax, pseudochylothorax and urinothorax are associated with characteristic clinical contexts and pleural fluid parameters but are likely underdiagnosed. Yellow nail syndrome is a rare disorder that can be associated with chylothorax and manifests multisystem features. Recognition of these entities is important because each of these disorders is associated with distinctive aetiology and management modalities. Correct diagnosis depends on the clinician's awareness of the clinical contexts and manifestations along with diagnostic pleural fluid findings in these disorders.