Oral Minoxidil Use in Yellow Nail Syndrome: Report of 2 Cases

Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare disorder characterized by a triad of thickened yellow nails, primary lymphedema, and chronic respiratory manifestations. A key feature of the condition is diminished nail growth which contributes to the development of the characteristic yellow nails. Although its underlying etiology is unclear, it is postulated that microvasculopathy, lymphatic dysfunction, and protein leakage are involved. Current treatment options are limited and do not demonstrate consistent efficacy.

We report 2 cases of YNS which improved with treatment using oral minoxidil for 3-6 months.

Oral minoxidil therapy was well tolerated and resulted in visible improvement in nail changes. To our knowledge, oral minoxidil therapy for YNS has not previously been reported and may represent a promising new treatment.