The Nikolsky sign.

Abstract

The well known Nikolsky sign has long been associated with clinical diagnosis of the pemphigus group of diseases. The literature has been reviewed on the origin and application of this physical sign, and its clinical usefulness is assessed herein. A wide variety of dermatologic disease states associated with this sign was found as well as sigificant disparity about the definition of a positive sign. Little documentation was found to substantiate these large variations.