Acute Glomerulonephritis
According to the 1982 WHO clinical symptom classification, a group of disorders with acute onset and characterized primarily by hematuria, proteinuria, hypertension, a reduced glomerular filtration rate, and sodium and water retention is termed acute nephritic syndrome (ANS). Acute glomerulonephritis refers to a group of primary glomerulonephritides whose main clinical presentation is nephritic syndrome. Immune-mediated glomerulonephritis caused by infection with Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci is known as acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) and accounts for approximately 80% of acute nephritic syndrome cases. Pneumococci, staphylococci, viruses, and other pathogens can also cause ANS.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), this condition is generally categorized under “edema” and “hematuria,” among other patterns.
TCM Pattern Identification and Treatment Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Edema of the face and limbs or generalized edema, scant urine, aversion to cold and fever, with the chills more pronounced; pale tongue body, thin white coating, and a floating, tight pulse
In plain language:
- Edema may affect the face, limbs, or even the whole body. The skin may look puffy and taut, with obvious swelling when pressed.
- Urine output may be low, and urination may feel less free-flowing than usual.
- You may feel both cold and feverish, with chills more prominent and discomfort worsening after exposure to cold.
- The tongue may appear pale, with less color than usual.
- The tongue coating may be thin and white.
- The pulse may be readily felt superficially and feel tight under pressure.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Disperse wind and cold; diffuse Lung qi and promote urination
In plain language:
- Help disperse wind-cold from the body, easing symptoms such as headache, nasal congestion, or chills.
- Promote the free flow of Lung qi to support easier breathing and relieve chest tightness or coughing.
- Support the body’s fluid metabolism and urination, with the aim of gradually reducing swelling.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Fever without chills, or fever more prominent than chills; swelling of the head and face; sore throat; scant, dark-red urine with difficult or uncomfortable urination; red tongue, thin yellow coating, and a floating, rapid or thin, rapid pulse
In plain language:
- You may have a fever without feeling cold, or the fever may be more pronounced than the chills, with heat being the main sensation.
- The head and face may look swollen and taut, with visible swelling when pressed.
- Your throat may be sore, with noticeable discomfort or tightness when swallowing or speaking.
- Urine output may be low, and the urine may be yellow to reddish, with a feeling of difficulty or discomfort during urination.
- The tongue may appear red.
- The tongue coating may be thin and yellow.
- The pulse may be readily felt superficially and feel rapid, or feel thin and rapid under pressure.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Disperse wind and clear heat; diffuse Lung qi and promote urination
In plain language:
- Help disperse wind from the body, easing discomfort such as headache, nasal congestion, or itching.
- Clear heat from the body, with the aim of easing fever, sore or swollen throat, or thirst.
- Promote the free flow of Lung qi to support easier breathing and gradually ease chest tightness or coughing.
- Support the body’s fluid metabolism and urination, with the aim of gradually reducing edema.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Edema of the face or whole body; skin sores, boils, or abscesses; irritability with a sensation of heat and thirst; red tongue, yellow greasy coating, and a slippery, rapid pulse
In plain language:
- The face or whole body may become swollen, with the skin appearing puffy and taut; the swelling may be pronounced and slow to subside when pressed.
- Sores, boils, or abscesses may develop on the skin, with localized redness, swelling, warmth, and pain, sometimes forming raised lumps.
- You may feel restless and hot, with thirst and a desire to drink; drinking may only temporarily relieve the dryness.
- The tongue may appear red.
- The tongue may have a yellow, sticky, greasy-looking coating.
- The pulse may feel smooth and rapid under pressure.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat and resolve toxins; promote urination and reduce edema
In plain language:
- Clear heat from the body, with the aim of easing fever, thirst, or irritability.
- Help dispel pathogenic factors from the body, with the aim of easing sore or swollen throat, sores, or redness, swelling, warmth, and pain.
- Help dispel excess dampness from the body, with the aim of easing feelings of heaviness and fatigue.
- Support the body’s fluid excretion and urination, with the aim of gradually reducing edema.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Pale complexion, aversion to cold and cold limbs, generalized edema that is more pronounced in the lower limbs, sometimes with pleural effusion or ascites; scant urine, loose stools, white greasy coating, and a soggy, moderate pulse
In plain language:
- The face may look pale and lacking in color or luster.
- You may feel cold, with cold hands and feet that are slow to warm, and be very sensitive to cold.
- Edema may affect the whole body and be more noticeable in the lower limbs, with visible swelling when pressed.
- Fluid may also collect in the chest or abdomen, presenting as pleural effusion or ascites.
- Urine output may be low, with short or unsatisfying urination.
- Stools may be loose and poorly formed.
- The tongue may be covered with a white, greasy-looking coating.
- The pulse may feel soft and slow, with a moderate rhythm and relatively weak force.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Strengthen the Spleen and tonify the Kidney; warm Yang and promote urination
In plain language:
- Support Spleen function so food can be better processed and used by the body, helping support energy.
- Nourish the Kidneys and support vitality, with the aim of easing weakness or soreness in the lower back and knees or fatigue.
- Warm and support Yang, with the aim of helping the body feel warmer and less sensitive to cold.
- Support the movement of fluids in the body and urination, with the aim of gradually reducing edema.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, fatigue and weakness, edema of the lower limbs, red tongue body, scant coating, and a thin or thin, rapid pulse
In plain language:
- Your lower back and knees may feel sore and weak, and you may feel less strength when walking or sitting for a long time.
- You may tire easily and feel weak, with low energy for daily activities and limited improvement after resting.
- The lower limbs may become swollen and feel puffy or tight, causing discomfort with movement.
- The tongue may appear red.
- The tongue may have very little coating, with no obvious thick coating.
- The pulse may feel thin, or thin and rapid, with relatively weak force and a faster rhythm.
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish and tonify the Liver and Kidneys; nourish Yin and promote urination
In plain language:
- Nourish the Liver and Kidneys and support the body’s vital substances, with the aim of easing discomfort such as blurred vision or soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees.
- Nourish Yin and support balance in the body, with the aim of reducing sensations of deficiency heat, irritability, or night sweats.
- Support the body’s fluid metabolism and urination, with the aim of gradually reducing edema.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
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- Yang QC, Yang NZ. Discussion of the etiology and pathogenesis of acute glomerulonephritis[J]. Journal of Liaoning College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2003, 5(1): 13.
- von Pirquet C. Allergy[J]. Arch Int Med, 1911, 7: 259–288.
- Rodriguez-Iturbe B, Batsford S. Pathogenesis of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis a century after Clemensvon Pirquet[J]. Kidney Int, 2007, 71(11): 1094–1104.
- Hu YM, Jiang ZF. Zhu Futang’s Practical Pediatrics[M]. 7th ed. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2002: 1634–1678.
- Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China. Guiding Principles for Clinical Research on New Traditional Chinese Medicines (Series 1)[M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1993: 149–152.
- China Association of Chinese Medicine. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute glomerulonephritis[J]. Chinese Medicine Modern Distance Education of China, 2011, 9(9): 128–129.
- Rodriguez-Iturbe B, Musser JM. The current state of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis[J]. J Am Soc Nephrol, 2008, 19(10): 1855–1864.
- White AV, Hoy WE, Mccredie DA. Childhood poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis as a risk factor for chronic renal disease in later life[J]. Med J Aust, 2001, 174(10): 492–496.
- Xu F, Zeng CH. Acute postinfectious glomerulonephritis with extensive crescent formation[J]. Chinese Journal of Nephrology, Dialysis & Transplantation, 2013, 22(6): 576–579.