Chinese herb nephropathy

Chinese herb nephropathy

A progressive form of renal fibrosis that develops in some patients taking weight-reducing pills containing Chinese herbs, including Aristolochia fangchi, which is nephrotoxic and carcinogenic. Surgical specimens from patients with Chinese herb nephropathy contain DNA adducts formed by aristolochic acid; the cumulative dose of aristolochia was a significant risk factor for urothelial carcinoma.