PREVALENCE OF NAIL ABNORMALITIES IN CHILDREN WITH ALOPECIA-AREATA

We assessed the prevalence of nail abnormalities in 272 children with alopecia areata who were seen in our department during an eight-year p eriod. Of these, 126 (46%; 50 girls, 76 boys) had nail abnormalities t hat were related to alopecia areata. Nail pitting was detected in 92 p atients, including 37 with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis. T hree patients experienced an onychomadesis of all 20 nails during the acute onset of alopecia areata universalis. Thirty-two (11.7%) had nai l thinning and severe nail plate surface abnormalities that were consi stent with a diagnosis of trachyonychia.