[Yellow nail syndrome with chylous effusions].

Yellow nail syndrome is characterized by a yellow discolouration of the nails associated with idiopathic lymphoedema and pleuropulmonary manifestations. Pleural effusions are usually of the exudate type with a normal lipid content. The case reported here of a 74-year old man who had yellow nails together with chylothorax and chylous ascites provides an opportunity to discuss the origin of these rare effusions which, like the syndrome itself, were most probably due to primary abnormalities of the lymphatic system.