Nail involvement in osteoarthritis.

Two cases of nail involvement associated with primary interphalangeal osteoarthritis of the hand, including leukonychia and longitudinal nail ridge, are reported. Osteoarthritic changes of the distal interphalangeal joints may cause nail lesions by exerting direct pressure on the nail matrix or by interfering with local blood flow. Moreover, inflammation of the Heberden's nodes is often present and seems to participate in the development of nail alteration. In our patients, leukonychia disappeared after local steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment of the osteoarthritic node and longitudinal nail ridge disappeared after treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.