Abstract:
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a modified regimen of intralesional steroid injection therapy for the treatment of nail psoriasis and assess the side effects of this regimen. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Dermatology Department of Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from February 1999 to January 2001. Patients and Methods: Patients having psoriatic nail dystrophy, reporting to the skin department of Military Hospital, Rawalpindi were registered. The features accounted for were pitting, onycholysis, subungual hyperkeratosis, ridging, thickening and color change. The affected digits were scored from 0 to 3 for the severity of each of these features. Similar number of control digits was also selected. Injection of triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/ml) was given into the nail bed and matrix following ring block anesthesia. The features were re-scored after two months. A second injection was given after 02 months if warranted by poor response. The follow-up period ranged upto 06 months. Results: A total of 100 nails were injected in 35 subjects. Pitting was the commonest presenting feature seen in 71 digits (71%) and improved in 41 digits (57.7%). Onycholysis was seen in 37 digits (37%) and improved in 15 digits (40.5%). Subungual hyperkeratosis was seen in 57 digits (57%) and improved in all the cases. Other features like longitudinal ridging, thickening and yellow oil drop-like discoloration showed marked improvement. The side effects of this regimen were minimal and included painless subungual hematoma. Conclusion: The modified regimen of steroid was found to be effective and safe for the treatment of psoriatic nail deformities in this series.
Page(s):
78-81
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP, Volume: 18, Issue: 2, Year: 2008