II. Pathophysiology
- Results from Nail Growth arrest (interrupted nail bed mitosis)
- Suggests systemic illness or local Trauma
- Prolonged illness duration results in wider groove
III. Causes
- Severe illness
- Pemphigus
- High fever
- Chemotherapy
- Raynaud Disease
IV. Signs
- Deep transverse (horizontal) grooves in nail plate (Beau's Lines)
- Typically affects entire width of nail plate
V. Differential Diagnosis: Transverse Lines in Nail
- See Also Nail Discoloration
-
Muehrcke's Lines
- Pairs of white lines do not move with Nail Growth
-
Mees' Lines
- Transverse lines parallel to lunula
-
Leukonychia
- Non-uniform lines or spots
- Transverse striate Leukonychia