The evaluation of nail findings of children with atopi̇c dermatitis

The aim of this research is to evaluate the relationship between capillaroscopic nail findings and severity of disease in child patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). The research was carried on total 100, 2-16 years old patients who applied to Fırat University Department of Dermotological and Venereal Diseases, 50 of whom are diagnosed AD based on Hanifin and Rajka criterias and 50 of whom are willing healthy individuals. All patients' nails were examined dermatologically and capillaroscopically, present findings were recorded and taken photography. The severity score of atopic dermatitis index (SCORAD) of all patients were calculated. When the patient with AD and control group are compared in terms of dermatologic and capillaroscopic findings of nails, pitting, capillary density decrease, avascular surfaces, tortuosity, bush like appearance, irregularity in capillary order, increase in capillary dilatation and capillary branching are statistically and significantly higher in patient group (in order p=0.007, p=0.007, p=0.002, p=0.04, p=0.02, p˂0.001, p˂0.001, p=0.02). In patient group with AD, the level of SCORAD is statistically and significantly higher for patients with pitting (2,38±0.86), compared to non-pitting patients (1.70±0.74) (p=0.009); higher for patients with vertical streaking (2.50±0.83) compared to patients not having vertical streaking (1.79±0.79) (p=0.04). Finally, in this research, it has been found that the most common dermatologic nail findings among AD patients are %26 pitting and %8 vertical streaking. In patients with AD accompanied by pitting, avascular surfaces; in patients with AD accompanied by vertical streaking, capillary density decrease and avascular surfaces are more common. It has been found that there is a relationship between SCORAD level, which is an indication of severity of AD, and pitting and vertical streaking. Moreover, in patients with higher SCORAD level, cappillaroscopic avascular surfaces and capillary density decrease have been more frequently observed. Therefore, in this research, it has been determined that nail examination findings may show the severity of disease in patients with AD and capillaroscopic examination may be a practical way to contribute to determine the severity of the disease. Key Words: Atopic dermatitis, cappilaroscopy, nail findings