Make an appointment with your healthcare professional, particularly if the change affects several nails or continues as the nails grow. Common screening tests may include a blood pressure measurement, basic metabolic panel, creatinine and eGFR, complete blood count, urinalysis, and UACR. These tests are far more useful for evaluating kidney health than nail appearance alone.
Seek prompt medical care if nail changes occur with severe shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, very little urine, sudden swelling, or a rapid decline in your overall health.
Conclusion
Your fingernails cannot diagnose kidney disease, but unusual changes may be a reason to pay closer attention to your health. Pale nails, brittle nails, Terry’s nails, half-and-half nails, Beau’s lines, and Muehrcke’s lines can have several causes, including conditions involving the kidneys. If you notice a persistent pattern, do not panic and do not self-diagnose—use it as a prompt to speak with your doctor and get the appropriate blood and urine tests.
Source: Dr. Frita Fisher
