EPONYMS LINKED TO NAILS Khalid

The nails are affected by several dermatological and systemic diseases, and it is uncommon to find an isolated nail abnormalities. However, there are some diseases, in which the nails are affected primarily and similarly there are syndromes in which the nails affection is one of its major components. Some medical conditions in which there is a link to the nails are known eponymously (Tabl. I). However not all „nails eponyms’’ are used commonly. For example, there are eponymous synonyms for nail–patella syndrome (NPS) [1]. NPS is defined by three major features: nail anomalies, skeletal anomalies and renal disease. It is also known as, Fong disease, Österreicher-Turner syndrome, or Turner-Kieser syndrome, nevertheless this syndrome is best known as nail-patella syndrome [22]. Fong disease is the eponym given after Edward Everett Fong, an American radiologist, born 1912, and who discovered the disease in 1946. John W. Alden Turner was an American physician. His name was associated with NP, because of his description of two extensively affected families [23]. (The designation Turner syndrome, however, leads to confusion with the XO syndrome).Willibald Kieser, was, a German physician, whereas, Walther Österreicher, was an Austrian physician, born 1901. In „nails eponyms’’, there are eponyms which refer to the same condition like Plummer-Vinson or Paterson-Kelly syndrome. Lastly there are „nails eponyms’’, which may not survive more because of the improvement in our genetic understanding for the conditions they were named for. For instance, pachyonychia congenital types are currently best known by the genetic defects rather than its earlier eponymous types Jadassohn-Lewandowsky syndrome and Jackson-Lawler syndrome. REFERENCES