What Causes Koilonychia?

Plummer-Vinson Syndrome

A patient's Plummer-Vinson syndrome can cause them to develop koilonychia in their nails. Plummer-Vinson syndrome is a disorder characterized by esophageal webs, chronic iron deficiency, and dysphagia. The cause of Plummer-Vinson syndrome is unknown, and the disorder is a very rare occurrence in the human population. Plummer-Vinson syndrome occurs more often in women than it does in men, but the reasons behind this gender imbalance distribution are unknown. Koilonychia is a characteristic symptom that occurs in some Plummer-Vinson syndrome patients along with the symptoms of glossitis, enlargement of the spleen, and thyroid enlargement. The chronic iron deficiency that occurs in individuals affected by this syndrome is the component connecting it to koilonychia. An insufficient amount of iron provided to the iron-containing enzymes that perform functions in the epithelial cells in and around the nail bed is the best-known mechanism behind iron deficiency precipitated koilonychia.