A Case of Life-Threatening Acute Kidney Injury with Toxic Encephalopathy Caused by Dioscorea quinqueloba

Some herbal medications induce acute kidney injury. The acute kidney injuries caused by herbal medications are mild and commonly treated by palliative care. A 51-years-old man who drank the juice squeezed from the raw tubers of Dioscorea quinqueloba (D. quinqueloba) was admitted with nausea, vomiting and chilling. He developed a seizure with decreased level of consciousness. He was diagnosed with acute kidney injury, which was cured by continuous venovenous hemodialfiltration. Non-detoxified D. quinqueloba can cause severe acute kidney injury with toxic encephalopathy. It is critical to inform possible adverse effects of the medicinal herbs and to implement more strict regulation of these products.

Dioscorea Quinqueloba-Induced Tubulointerstitial Nephritis / 대한내과학회지

Drug-induced tubulointerstitial nephritis is one cause of acute kidney injury. Although traditional remedies have been widely used in South Korea, Dioscorea quinqueloba-induced tubulointerstitial nephritis has not been reported in the general population. A 72-year-old male patient was transferred to our hospital with pulmonary edema, oliguria, decreased mentality, severe generalized edema after taking D. quinqueloba 25 days ago. His initial lab findings showed a blood urea nitrogen level of 43.4 mg/dL, a creatinine level of 5.3 mg/dL. Urinalysis revealed SG (1.015), blood (many), protein (++) and WBC (0-3/HPF). Kidney biopsy demonstrated severe mononuclear cell infiltration into the renal interstitium with mild tubular atrophy. Aggressive renal replacement therapy and supportive care resulted in gradual restoration of his renal function. This case implies that D. quinqueloba may be one cause that induces tubulointerstitial nephritis in some patients.