COVID‐19 and nail manifestation: be on the lookout for the red half‐moon nail sign
Silvia Méndez‐Flores, Angela Zaladonis, Rodrigo Valdés‐Rodríguez
Abstract
Dear Editor, Multiple cutaneous dermatologic manifestations have been reported in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, especially pernio-like lesions.1 Interestingly, nail apparatus manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 have been scarcely reported, with only one published report in the literature to date.2 We report the case of a 37-year-old woman who presented with anosmia, dry cough, persistent fever, and relatively normal oxygen saturation (>92%). A positive nasal swab polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2 confirmed the infection. Two days after the symptoms began, the patient noticed changes in the nail bed characterized by a red-violet band, above the nail lunule. These changes were asymptomatic and lasted for 1 week before gradually returning to normal (Fig. 1). The patient was managed at home and did not require supplemental oxygen. Cutaneous manifestations, such as erythematous rash, rash with petechiae, vesicular rash, acral ischemia, livedo reticularis, and widespread urticaria, can present in up to 20% of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.1 The chilblain-like lesions in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection range from mild to severe acral ischemia lesions. Recently Neri et al., reported a case of “transversal red bands of the nail” also referred to as the “red half-moon nail sign”.2 We believe that our case confirms this finding. The pathophysiology of this nail manifestation remains to be elusive; however, similar to Neri et al., we hypothesized that this transient phenomenon could be secondary to vascular inflammation.2 We did not perform a biopsy because of its morbidity and possible permanent cosmetic results. Therefore, the associated histological findings of the red half-moon nail sign associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection remain uncertain. In summary, it is important to emphasize a complete and detailed dermatological review, in search of these nail changes in all patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.