title: [Aristolochic acid nephropathy].
abstract: Aristolochic acid nephropathy is a chronic, fibrosing, interstitial nephritis caused by aristolochic acid (AA), which is a component of the plants of Aristolochiacae family. It was first reported in 1993, in Belgium as a Chinese herb nephropathy, in patients who received a slimming regimen containing AA. The term aristolochic acid nephropathy also includes Balcan endemic nephropathy and other endemic tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Moreover, AA is a human carcinogen which induces urothelial cancer. The AA-containing herbs are banned in many countries and FDA published the warnings concerning the safety of AA-containing botanical remedies in 2000. Regarding the increasing interest in herbal medicines, uncontrolled access to botanical remedies and replacement of one herb by another AA-containing compounds makes thousands of people all around the world at risk of this grave disease.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Nefrologii, Endokrynologii i Chorób Przemiany Materii, Slaskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Katowicach. nefro@sum.edu.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Witkowicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D029065:Aristolochiaceae / Q000009:adverse effects*; D034341:Aristolochic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019459:Urothelium / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D034341:Aristolochic Acids; D002273:Carcinogens; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C000228:aristolochic acid I