A Case of Heavy Proteinuric Non-IgA Mesangial Proliferative Glomerulonephritis Ameliorated by Chinese Herbal Medicines

Objective: The case aims to show anti-proteinuric effect of Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) in a patient with heavy proteinuric non-IgA mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN). Subject: A 16-year-old boy was found edema in the lower limbs and a great quantity of urine protein for 4-months and diagnosed as non-IgA MsPGN via renal biopsy later, but there was no amelioration after receiving a shortdated comprehensive treatment including full amount of prednisone. Then he visited Prof. Ming Wan for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy. Interventions and outcome: This patient was treated with the integrated treatment, mainly including empirical Chinese herbal formulas (500 mL/day for 3-months), multi-glycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f. (GTW) (90 mg/day for 3-months) and Losartan (50 mg/day for 3-months). His heavy proteinuria and clinical conditions were significantly improved after continuous treatment for 3-months and basically stable for nearly 3-years during the follow-up. Conclusions: Based on a variety of conventional drugs in clinic, the combined treatment of empirical Chinese herbal formulas and GTW was significantly effective in reducing massive proteinuria in non-IgA MsPGN patients, which is different from hormonotherapy.