Mees' lines on the fingernails are a classic sign of chronic poisoning with which heavy metal?

• A Lead
• B Mercury
• C Thallium
• D Arsenic ✓

Explanation

Mees' lines are transverse white bands on the nails caused by deposition of arsenic in the nail plate during periods of acute arsenic toxicity; as the nail grows, these bands move distally. They are a hallmark finding in chronic arsenical poisoning along with Aldrich-Mees lines in hair (by Reinsch test) and raindrop pigmentation of skin.

Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.