[Growth of finger nails in psoriasis patients undergoing PUVA therapy]

In 78 persons aged 13-78 years with and without psoriasis the daily growth rate of fingernails was measured on three nails each of the right and left hand. Untreated patients with psoriasis had an increased growth rate (112.7 +/- 25.5 micrometers) compared to control subjects (102.5 +/- 18.5 micrometers) without psoriasis (p less than or equal to 0.001). In patients with psoriatic nail involvement the growth rate was significantly increased (113.9 +/- 29.2 micrometers). Photochemotherapy (PUVA) slowed down the nail growth rate in patients without nail involvement (92.8 +/- 21.8 micrometers) vs. untreated psoriatics without nail involvement (p less than or equal to 0.05). In psoriatics with nail involvement, PUVA therapy had no measurable effect on the growth rate of fingernails.