title: [Traditional remedy-induced Chinese herbs nephropathy showing rapid deterioration of renal function].
abstract: A 19-year-old female was referred to our hospital for azotemia and anemia. She had been taking a health food for atopic dermatitis for about three years. Urinalysis showed proteinuria, glycosuria and microscopic hematuria. Generalized aminoaciduria was observed. Moreover, severe anemia, azotemia, hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia were also observed. Renal biopsy specimen disclosed hypocellular interstitial fibrosis and degeneration of the proximal tubular epithelial cells. No remarkable changes were observed in the glomeruli. Aristolochic acid was detected in the health food. From these findings, she was diagnosed as having Chinese herbs nephropathy (CHN). Although consumption of the food intake was stopped, her renal function deteriorated rapidly. Previously, we reported that certain kinds of Chinese herbal drugs contain aristolochic acid and that the drugs should be prohibited if aristolochic acid is identified. However, we experienced a patient of CHN arising from traditional remedy, which was not proved to be safe. It should be awared that health foods may contain aristolochic acid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagae
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shinkai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D034341:Aristolochic Acids; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D034341:Aristolochic Acids; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C000228:aristolochic acid I