nephropathies in Taiwan

[Guest guest]

Two reports from Taiwan on nephropathy induced by Chinese herbs :

 

Pediatr Nephrol. 2006 Mar 7; [Epub ahead of print]

 

 

Fanconi's syndrome, interstitial fibrosis and renal failure by aristolochic

acid in Chinese herbs.

 

Hong YT, Fu LS, Chung LH, Hung SC, Huang YT, Chi CS.

 

Division of Immunology and Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Taichung

Veterans' General Hospital, 160, Sec. 3, Chung-Kang Road, Taichung, 407,

Taiwan, linshienfu.

 

Aristolochic acid-associated nephropathy (AAN) has been identified as a

separate entity of progressive tubulo-interstitial nephropathy. Its

characteristic pathological findings, including hypocellular interstitial

fibrosis, intimal thickening of interlobular and afferent arterioles with

glomeruli sparing or mild sclerosis, have been identified. Many cases of AAN

in adults have been reported in Taiwan as well as throughout the world, but

it has seldom been described in children. We report on a 10-year-old boy who

presented with severe anemia, Fanconi's syndrome, and progressive renal

failure. Renal biopsy revealed typical findings of AAN. Aristolochic acids I

and II were identified from a Chinese herb mixture ingested by the boy. AAN

was diagnosed after other etiologies had been excluded. The case

demonstrates the hazards of Chinese herbs with regard to children's health

in Taiwan and suggests that more attention should be paid to this issue.

 

PMID: 16520953 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

 

 

 

J Nephrol. 2006 Jan-Feb;19(1):111-4.

 

 

Aristolochic acid-related nephropathy associated with the popular Chinese

herb Xi Xin.

 

Yang HY, Lin JL, Chen KH, Yu CC, Hsu PY, Lin CL.

 

Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei - Taiwan.

 

Chinese herbs nephropathy is known as a subacute interstitial nephritis

attributed to aristolochic acid. This work describes the case of a

49-year-old male who displayed subacute renal failure induced by ingestion

of herbal powder containing Xi Xin, which includes aristolochic acid. Since

Xi Xin is a common ingredient in traditional formulae, care needs to be

taken in the future to identify the aristolochic acid concentration of

different components of Xi Xin. Xi Xin containing aristolochic acid should

be forbidden for use in remedies in order to prevent the harmful effects of

aristolochic acid.

 

PMID: 16523436 [PubMed - in process]

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

One of my lecturers at University, Dr. Jerry Zhang, who really knows

his stuff and was, I believe, and advisor to the Australian government

on some herbal issues, told us that the aristolochic acid content of Xi

Xin builds up over time, and dried Xi Xin that is more than 2 (I think)

years old will have an aristolochic acid content, apparantly before

that time it is negligible and can be safely used. Of course I cannot

comment on whether or not it should be used in children. I myself do

not use it, mostly because I am Ms. Ultra Paranoid, and also because I

dont often use formulae that call for it. For that reason, they would

like herbs to be dated, of course it wouldnt work to just date them in

Australia, as who knows how long they have been stored on the China

side. If anybody has any further info about this, or if you think I

have got something wrong, let me know. (Ive just had a second baby and

my memory isnt what it should be.....formulae anyone? I take gui pi

wan when I can be bothered.)