Chinese researchers have found that a herbal formula called Huai Qi Huang (HQH) can ameliorate proteinuria and haematuria in patients suffering from IgA nephropathy (IgAN, aka Berger’s disease). In this condition, immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits form in the glomeruli, causing inflammation, which results in chronic kidney damage. HQH is a compound Chinese herbal medicine that contains Trametes robiniophila murr (Huaier), wolfberry fruit (Gou Qi Zi), and Polygonatum (Huang Jing). Forty-five adults diagnosed with IgAN who had haematuria and/or proteinuria were randomly assigned to receive HQH or no treatment for 12 weeks. The results showed that 24-hour urinary protein excretion was significantly reduced in the HQH group, compared with that in the control group at Weeks 8 and 12. A much higher rate of complete remission of proteinuria was observed in the HQH group compared with the control group at Week 12. HQH administration also significantly reduced the extent of haematuria compared with the control group at Week 12. The authors conclude that HQH could offer a new conservative therapy for IgAN patients who cannot tolerate steroids and immunosuppressive agents. (Huai Qi Huang ameliorates proteinuria and hematuria in mild IgA nephropathy patients: A prospective randomized controlled study. J Formos Med Assoc. 2013 Dec;112(12):766-72).
Quelle: www.jcm.co.uk