eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Nails

Nail-Patella Syndrome: Treatment & Medication

Author: Anna Choczaj-Kukula, MD, PhD, Locum Consultant Dermatologist, St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, UK
Coauthor(s): Camila K Janniger, MD, Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Chief of Pediatric Dermatology, New Jersey Medical School
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Apr 21, 2009

Treatment

Medical Care

  • No treatment is available for the cutaneous findings of nail-patella syndrome (NPS), also known as hereditary osteo-onychodysplasia (HOOD).
  • Associated abnormalities require appropriate care from specialists.
  • Proesmans et al reported that enalapril at 1 mg/kg/d plus losartan at 1 mg/kg/d achieved complete remission of proteinuria in young girl with nail-patella syndrome.35

Surgical Care

  • Although more than 90% of patients with nail-patella syndrome have patellar involvement, most patients are asymptomatic and rarely require surgical treatment.
  • However, congenital permanent dislocation of the patella (CPDP) should be treated with surgical procedures. Preferably, orthopedic correction should be performed when the patient is aged approximately 2-3 years to prevent secondary deformities and growth-related disability.

Consultations

  • Consult an orthopedist, nephrologist, and ophthalmologist, as determined by the patient's history and physical examination.
  • Consult a genetic counselor.

More on Nail-Patella Syndrome

Overview: Nail-Patella Syndrome
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Nail-Patella Syndrome
Treatment & Medication: Nail-Patella Syndrome
Follow-up: Nail-Patella Syndrome
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

nail-patella syndrome, NPS, hereditary osteo-onychodysplasia, HOOD, Fong syndrome, Osterreicher-Turner syndrome, fingernail dysplasia, absent patellae, hypoplastic patellae, posterior conical iliac horns, radial head deformation, radial head luxation, Goodpasture disease, congenital permanent dislocation of the patella, CPDP

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Anna Choczaj-Kukula, MD, PhD, Locum Consultant Dermatologist, St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, UK
Disclosure: Johnson & Johnson Salary Management position

Coauthor(s)

Camila K Janniger, MD, Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Chief of Pediatric Dermatology, New Jersey Medical School
Camila K Janniger, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Catharine Lisa Kauffman, MD, FACP, Georgetown Dermatology and Georgetown Dermpath
Catharine Lisa Kauffman, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Royal Society of Medicine, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Women's Dermatologic Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Paul Krusinski, MD, Director of Dermatology, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Fletcher Allen Health Care, University of Vermont
Paul Krusinski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Glen H Crawford, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital
Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD, Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: elsevier Royalty Other; american college of physicians Honoraria Other

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