Guanmutong is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine with the function of clearing heat and promoting diuresis. It used to be the main ingredient in the widely used Chinese patent medicine Longdan Xiegan Wan. However, due to the toxic nature of Guanmutong, we must be extra careful when using it.
Guanmutong contains aristolochic acid, which has strong toxicity to the kidneys and can damage renal tubular function, leading to renal failure. Because of the close relationship between the three, although the names of the events may vary, they refer to almost the same thing.
The toxic component in Guanmutong, aristolochic acid, can cause acute renal failure and even death when taken in excessive amounts.
Symptoms of poisoning include discomfort in the upper abdomen, followed by vomiting, headache, chest tightness, abdominal distension and pain, diarrhea, facial swelling, frequent urination, urgency, gradually developing generalized edema, and confusion.
The cause of poisoning is excessive or long-term use. Therefore, it must be used strictly according to the prescribed dosage and method.
Treatment for poisoning includes gastric lavage and enema. According to reports, early administration of adrenal corticosteroids can delay the progression of the disease. Timely hemodialysis can achieve favorable treatment opportunities and effects. For patients with significant renal impairment and end-stage kidney disease, alternative treatment such as kidney transplantation is necessary.
