Nail Involvement in Autoimmune Bullous Disorders

Autoimmune bullous disorders frequently cause nail abnormalities, particularly paronychia and onychomadesis. In pemphigus vulgaris (PV) nail abnormalities can even precede skin findings. Nail lesions often relapse just before generalized disease exacerbation or recurrence. Severe nail changes are often associated with extensive and severe disease. Fingernails are more commonly affected. A report in the literature associates hemorrhagic nail abnormalities with poor prognosis in patients with PV. Nail scarring and pterygium are a rare complication of bullous pemphigoid. Nail loss has been occasionally reported in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.