PREVALENCE OF NAIL INVOLVEMENT IN NODAL OSTEOARTHRITIS

The presence of nail changes was investigated in 102 patients with nod al osteoarthritis of the hand. Nail lesions were seen in 14/102 patien ts (13.7%), a prevalence higher than that observed in 96 controls (4/9 6, 4.2%; chi square 4.37, p = 0.036). An increased risk of nail change s was associated with osteoarthritis of the hand (odds ratio = 3.7, 95 % CI 1.13 to 11.8). Longitudinal lines were the most frequent nail alt eration and accounted for 10/14 of the observed lesions. Nail involvem ent was associated with long-lasting symptoms related to osteoarthriti s and high serum iron concentration. This complication of osteoarthrit is is not as rare as might appear from the literature, and its pathoge nesis remains to be investigated.