Study suggests link between toenail dystrophy, onychomycosis

Iowa City, Iowa - According to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, toenail dystrophy, tinea pedis and other conditions are associated with an increased risk of onychomycosis, HealthDay News reports.

A research team from the University of Iowa analyzed toenail clippings from 311 patients who had been referred to the pathology department for onychomycosis screening over a five-year period. The team found that 150 samples tested positive for onychomycosis, which was strongly linked to the third and fifth toenails. Some 82.6 percent of the patients had dystrophy of the great toenail; half of these had onychomycosis.

The study concludes “while clues from the clinical distribution of toenail dystrophy do not obviate the need for diagnostic testing, this information may raise clinical suspicion and assist in decision-making regarding which definitive test or tests to perform.”