The Ewha Medical Journal
Ewha Womans University School of Medicine
Case Report

A Case of Fanconi's Syndrome due to Chinese Herb Nephropathy

Hye Sung Won*, In Jeong Cho*, Seung Hyun Yoo*, Mina Yu*, Dong Ryeol Ryu*, Seung Jung Kim*, Duk Hee Kang*, Kyu Bok Choi*, Kyun Il Yoon*, Sun Hee Sung**

Copyright ⓒ 2007. Ewha Womans University School of Medicine. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Sep 30, 2007

Abstract

A unique type of rapidly progressive interstitial fibrosis of the kidney, the Chinese Herb Nephropathy (CHN) has been reported in Belgian woman after intake of Chinese herbs. CHN contains several characteristics that include variable clinical features from progressive renal failure to Fanconi's syndrome, histologic finding of extensive interstitial fibrosis, high risk of urothelial malignancy. We are reporting a case of33 year-old female patient who was diagnosed as CHN. The patient visited our hospital with symptoms of nausea. Laboratory investigation showed metabolic acidosis with normal anion gap, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, proteinuria, glycosuria consistent with Fanconi's syndrome. She took Chinese herbs for slimming 4 months before. Renal biopsy showed the features of tubular cell injury with interstitial edema, accompanied by interstitial fibrosis on following biopsy, compatible with Chinese Herb Nephropathy. After 5 months, her renal function was progressed rapidly, therefore peritoneal dialysis was started. This case shows that we should consider Chinese herb as a cause of renal failure.

Keywords: Chinese herb nephropathy; Fanconi's syndrome; ESRD