Vanherweghem J L
Service de Néphrologie de l'Hôpital Erasme, Université libre de Bruxelles.
Bull Mem Acad R Med Belg. 1994;149(1-2):128-35; discussion 135-40.
An outbreak of rapidly progressive renal failure was observed in Belgium in 1992-1993 and was related to a slimming regimen involving chinese herbs, namely Stephania tetrandra and Magnolia officinalis. Seventy one cases were registered on january 1994, 35 of whom being on renal replacement therapy. Renal failure has been progressing in most of the cases despite the withdrawal of the exposure to the chinese herbs. Renal biopsies showed an extensive interstitial fibrosis with loss of tubes, predominantly in the outer cortex. Chemical analyses of the chinese herbs powdered extracts delivered in Belgium demonstrated a misidentification between Stephania tetrandra and another chinese herb, Aristolochia Fang-chi, potentially nephrotoxic. These observations indicate the need of intensive search of nephrotoxins in cases of interstitial nephritis of unknown origin. Also, they underline the necessity of the introduction of measures allowing the control of correct identification of herbs preparations.
1992年至1993年期间，比利时出现了快速进展性肾衰竭的疫情，这与一种包含中药（即防己和厚朴）的减肥疗法有关。1994年1月登记了71例病例，其中35例正在接受肾脏替代治疗。尽管停止接触这些中药，但大多数病例的肾衰竭仍在进展。肾活检显示广泛的间质纤维化伴肾小管丧失，主要在外皮质。对比利时提供的中药粉末提取物的化学分析表明，防己与另一种潜在肾毒性的中药广防己被误认。这些观察结果表明，对于不明原因的间质性肾炎病例，需要深入寻找肾毒素。此外，它们强调了采取措施以控制草药制剂正确识别的必要性。
