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Case Reports
. 2019 Mar 5:7:6.
doi: 10.1186/s40337-019-0236-4. eCollection 2019.

Nail clubbing in laxative abuse: case report and review of the literature

Olivia A Charlton  1 , Philippa Dickison  1 , Saxon D Smith  1   2 , Simon D Roger  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Nail clubbing in laxative abuse: case report and review of the literature

Olivia A Charlton et al. J Eat Disord. .

Abstract

Background: The link between clubbing and laxative abuse has been reported several times in the literature, in all cases in young females. The nature of this relationship is not understood.

Case: A young female, with no history of hepatic, pulmonary or malignant disease was found to have nail clubbing in the context of laxative abuse. A literature review revealed several similar cases.

Conclusion: Laxative abuse is an important consideration in the assessment of clubbing in populations at risk of eating disorders, to prevent over-investigation and facilitate management of the eating disorder itself. This case highlights a new clinical presentation of an eating disorder.

Case: A 36-year-old woman was being reviewed by a renal specialist for renal impairment and electrolyte disturbances, in the context of a background of multiple renal calculi 4 years prior, hypokalaemia and hypercalcaemia. The attending nephrologist brought attention to her nails, which demonstrated clubbing. She stated that she had had clubbing for 10 years, and that it was of gradual onset and not associated with any pain. There was no history of hepatic, cardoipulmonary or malignant disease.

Keywords: Clubbing; Eating disorder; Laxative abuse; Nail clubbing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Due to the nature of this case report, ethics approval was not necessary.Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for use of clinical images, history and publication of this case report.The authors declare that they have no competing interests.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The tips of the fingers are enlarged, and the nails curve around the fingertips
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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