Muehrcke's lines in a known case of lung carcinoma on chemotherapy

Abstract

Muehrcke's nails are changes in the fingernail that may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. These lines have been linked to low levels of albumin, indicating decreased protein synthesis as a result of liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis, malnutrition, or dietary protein deficiency. It can also occur during periods of metabolic stress such as systemic infection, trauma, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, chemotherapy drugs, Hodgkin's disease, pellagra, and sickle cell anemia. Muehrcke's nails are characterized by double white transverse line, across the nail, parallel to the lunula on the fingernails, and thumb involvement is rare. Treatment is the correction of albumin deficiency or any other underlying conditions. Examination of the nails should be an integral part of a complete dermatological examination. Here, we report a case of 47-year-old male diagnosed with Muerhcke's lines, secondary to intake of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs.

Keywords

• chemotherapeutic drugs
• hypoalbuminia
• leukonychia
• muehrcke's lines
• muehrcke's nails