IDIOPATHIC ATROPHY OF THE NAILS

SUMMARY.— A group of 9 patients is presented in whom painless loss of nails is the principal cutaneous abnormality. The nails are normal at birth but after a few years one or more finger or toe nails become affected. The condition is progressive for a time but then remains stationary and no further nails are involved. The nail changes range from discoloration and ridging, through pterygium formation to permanent total loss with obliteration of the nail fold. Some nails remain quite normal. The condition occurs without apparent cause and is apparently not genetically determined. The diseases with which it is most likely to be confused are nail loss from lichen planus or from impaired peripheral circulation.