Yellow nail syndrome: case report and review of the literature.

A patient with yellow nail syndrome is described. The presenting features were right pleural effusion resistant to therapy, leg edema and slow-growing yellow nails. T-lymphopenia in the peripheral blood and T cell predominance in the pleural fluid were demonstrated. In addition, the capillaries in the conjunctival and nail beds showed increased vasomotion and decreased diameter. It is suggested that the disease is not confined to the lymphatic system, but also involves the capillaries.