Nail Psoriasis in Children: Common or Uncommon Results from a 10-Year Double-Center Study

Abstract

<b><i>Purpose of the Study:</i></b> Our aim was to perform an extensive search of the literature on the prevalence of nail psoriasis in the pediatric population and to estimate it on our own database. <b><i>Procedures:</i></b> Searching the most important databases yielded results of 16 papers published in a 40-year period which reported the prevalence of nail psoriasis in children. Furthermore, data gathered between 2004 and 2013 at two centers specialized in nail disorders were analyzed. <b><i>Results: </i></b>The selected papers encompassed a total of 4,853 psoriatic children, of whom 762 (15.7%) had nail involvement. Concerning our data, a total of 68,839 children were seen in pediatric skin consultation in both clinics over a period of 10 years, 0.11% of which had nail involvement. The rate of psoriatic children presenting nail alterations was 19.4% in the Greek and 15.5% in the Italian patient groups. <b><i>Conclusions and Message:</i></b> This is the retrospective study including the largest number of cases of nail psoriasis in the pediatric population. Our data are in line with the incidence estimation of the rest of Europe.

Nail Involvement as a Predictor of Disease Severity in Paediatric Psoriasis: Follow-up Data from the Dutch ChildCAPTURE Registry

“…Cross-sectional analyses at baseline found nail psoriasis to be present in 19.0% of children. Piraccini et al (12) reported an overall prevalence of 15.7% in 4,853 children and, respectively, 19.4% and 15.5% in 2 centres specialized in nail disorders in Greece and Italy. Prevalence rates in adult psoriasis are higher, which suggests an association with psoriasis duration, but this is still a matter of debate (18,20,21).…”

“…Nail psoriasis affects over 50% of the adult population with psoriasis, and is even more prevalent in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Although a range of prevalence rates has been reported in children, a recent study of 4,853 children revealed an overall prevalence of 15.7% (12,13).…”

Recommendations for management of childhood psoriasis

“…Nail involvement is more common in males, severe psoriasis palmoplantar psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. [ 20 21 ]…”

Epidemiological aspects of psoriasis in children

“…B. Piraccini и соавт. [26] сообщили о результатах 10-летнего клинического наблюдения за 68 839 детей в возрасте от 6 до 17 лет в дерматологических центрах Греции и Италии. В структуре дерматологической заболеваемости детей псориаз составил 0,9 и 0,31% соответственно.…”

“…Изменения ногтевых пластин у детей с псориатическими высыпаниями на коже были диагностированы в 19,4% случаев в греческой группе и в 15,5% -в итальянской. Учитывая значительный объем наблюдения, авторы [26] пришли к выводу, что псориаз ногтей у детей является редким заболеванием и встречается у 0,11% детей, обратившихся за дерматологической помощью в клинику в течение 10 лет.…”