IgA Nephropathy Acute Exacerbation (Excess Pattern)

IgA nephropathy (immunoglobulin A nephropathy, IgAN) is a group of glomerulonephritides characterized by IgA deposits in the glomerular mesangium. It was first described in 1968 by French pathologists Berger and Hinglais and is therefore also known as Berger’s disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has no specific disease name for IgA nephropathy. Based on its clinical symptoms and duration, it is generally classified under TCM categories such as “hematuria,” “kidney wind,” “low back pain,” “edema,” and “deficiency taxation.”

TCM Pattern Differentiation and Treatment Reference

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Fever or mild aversion to wind and cold, sore and swollen throat, cough, headache, reddish urine or microscopic hematuria, and foamy urine. The condition is often triggered by an upper respiratory tract infection. The tongue may be red, or its sides and tip may be red; the coating is thin and yellow, and the pulse is floating and rapid.

In plain language:

  • You may have a fever or feel somewhat sensitive to wind and cold.
  • Your throat may be sore and swollen, causing noticeable discomfort when swallowing or speaking.
  • You may cough frequently, interfering with speaking and resting.
  • You may have a headache, with discomfort becoming more noticeable during activity or mental effort.
  • Your urine may look reddish or dark, or blood may be detectable on testing even when it is not visible to the naked eye.
  • Your urine may be quite foamy, with foam that takes a long time to disappear.
  • This pattern is often triggered by an upper respiratory tract infection, and cold-like symptoms may occur beforehand.
  • Your tongue may look reddish, especially along the sides or at the tip.
  • The tongue coating may be thin and yellowish.
  • Your pulse may be easy to feel near the surface and faster than usual.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Dispel wind, clear heat, remove toxins, and relieve sore throat.

In plain language:

  • Help dispel wind and clear internal heat, which may ease discomfort such as fever, headache, a dry or sore throat, irritability, and thirst.
  • Help address pathogenic factors and relieve throat discomfort, such as redness and swelling, pain when swallowing, or hoarseness.

|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 physician or pharmacist.

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Scant, dark-red urine or microscopic hematuria; frequent urination with a burning sensation; foul-smelling, loose stools; dry or bitter mouth; fullness and discomfort in the epigastrium and abdomen; low back pain; a red tongue with a yellow, greasy coating; and a slippery, rapid pulse.

In plain language:

  • You may pass a small amount of dark yellow or reddish urine, or blood may be detectable on testing even if it is not visible to the naked eye. Urination may feel uncomfortable or incomplete.
  • You may urinate more often and feel burning or heat in the urinary passage when you go to the bathroom.
  • Your stools may be loose and foul-smelling, with a sticky or uncomfortable feeling during bowel movements.
  • Your mouth may feel dry and bitter, with noticeable dryness and discomfort when speaking or swallowing.
  • You may feel fullness and pressure in the upper abdomen and belly, with discomfort that is difficult to relax.
  • You may have pain or soreness in the lower back, with discomfort during movement or prolonged sitting.
  • Your tongue may look distinctly red.
  • Your tongue may have a yellow, sticky-looking coating that appears thick and greasy.
  • Your pulse may feel smooth and faster than usual.

|Treatment Approach

Clinical description:

Clear heat and drain dampness; promote urination and relieve painful urinary difficulty.

In plain language:

  • Help clear internal heat and promote the elimination of dampness, which may ease discomfort such as fever, restlessness, a heavy feeling in the body, thirst, or reduced urine output.
  • Help promote urination and ease urinary difficulty, which may relieve symptoms such as scant, dark urine, difficulty urinating, or a burning sensation in the urinary passage.

|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 physician or pharmacist.

Ba Zheng San

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