Longitudinal melanonychia induced by 3'-azidodeoxythymidine. Report of 9 cases.

9 Caucasian patients who developed longitudinal melanonychia during 3'-azidodeoxythymidine (AZT) treatment for HIV infection are reported. The occurrence of nail pigmentation was not related to drug dosage or to the severity of the HIV infection. AZT as well as other drugs acting on DNA synthesis or transcription seem to be a quite frequent cause of longitudinal melanonychia.