A rare cause of pleural effusion; yellow nail syndrome

DİROL H., Odemis A., ÖZBUDAK Ö.

EURASIAN JOURNAL OF PULMONOLOGY, vol.22, no.2, pp.123-127, 2020 (ESCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 22 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.4103/ejop.ejop_74_19
  • Journal Name: EURASIAN JOURNAL OF PULMONOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.123-127
  • Keywords: Lipofuscin, lymphedema, lymphoscintigraphy, pleural effusion, yellow nail, LYMPHEDEMA
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare syndrome characterized by yellow-thick nails, lymphedema, and recurrent respiratory symptoms. Respiratory symptoms occur due to asthma, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia, sinusitis, pleural, and pericardial effusion. Pleural effusion is usually bilateral, exudative, and lymphocyte-predominant. Although about half of patients have pleural effusion, it is not a component of the triad. Two of the classical triad, yellow-thick nails, lymphedema, and recurrent respiratory symptoms, is enough for the diagnosis. About a hundred cases have been reported in the literature and all what we know is based on these case reports. There is no specific treatment for YNS; the goal is symptom control. Here, we report a successful pleurodesis in a 58-year-old male patient with YNS.