Long Strong Fingernails??

I am in remission now although my platelets have not made it into the normal range. They are 120. I am told that because they could not be brought into normal range I am at a higher risk of relapse and need to be checked regularly. Not that I am complaining, but I now have long strong fingernails, suddenly out of the blue. I have never had this and they have always been weak, brittle and would tear at the slightest insult. I am enjoying this new positive effect very much but am also wondering if there is something else going on post high doses of prednisone and rituxin, which ended in June. Why would my body reset this way? Thanks for any insight/thoughts.

Mine were long and strong on Pred and IVIG and stayed that way until I started Nplate - now thery are very brittle and soft. Still I am glad something seems to working on my counts.

I always had thin nails that would never grow...my entire life. I found out that my Vitamin D level was low and started a script for that. They grew long and strong for the first time ever. Then I started taking Methotrexate and they are back to breaking at the quick. Prednisone never affected my nails in any way. It's hard to say what changed yours....could be anything.

I haven't really put much thought into why my nails recently are almost fake looking. Before I was on prednisone my nails would grow but never this long or strong, but I've been off of prednisone for about 5months and my nails are still strong and beautiful, I wonder if there is a link with prednisone, If it is because of the roids, I guess something good came from all the bad side effects!! I also had an IVig treatment so that could be to thank also?

Prednisone actually thins the skin and can deplete calcium, so it is unlikely that Prednisone is the reason for your nails.

When I was having Rituxan I could see the 'rituxan line' in my nails. I would always get a thicker ridge that woudl grow out the further I got from having Rituxan. Always thought it was funny.

If you have one auto-immune you're more likely to have more. Nail issues are common with tyroid conditions. You might have been subclinical with minor symptoms and the retuxin also resolved them.

When I got ITP, my fingernail got longer and stronger. I don't belive that medicines have anything to do with it, because I don't treat. Can it be because people with ITP have a lot more dead cells, that grow out as nails? And then it will be logical that Prednisolon gives less nail - since the levels get higher.. just a thouht...

froken93 wrote: Can it be because people with ITP have a lot more dead cells, that grow out as nails?

No, I don't think so.

I've noticed that on a few of my fingernails, when my platelet count crashes I get these big dips that grow into my nails. The first time I noticed it was right after I did my first WinRho treatment (and was also on prednisone). The second time was when my platelet count was low but it was before I did the WinRho again. My nails have also been thicker and longer since I've been diagnosed, but I can't pinpoint when exactly they got that way.

Anaemia can cause dips in nails and WinRho can cause anaemia. Maybe not be the connection but it seems nice and neat!