A renal tuberculosis case: could Chinese medicine play a role?

CASE REPORT: A case of renal tuberculosis (TB) was treated with a multidrug therapeutic regimen (rifampicin 600 mg/day, ethambutol 800 mg/day, and isoniazid 150 mg/day), which was terminated for severe hepatotoxicity 2 months later. As an alternative therapeutic method, the patient was orally administered a Chinese herbal concoction while liver transaminases resumed normal levels.

RESULTS: After 1 year of treatment, the patient recovered completely; pyuria and hematuria disappeared with negative acid-fast bacteria urine culture. The patient has been followed up for 2 years without recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS: The case indicated that these Chinese herbs are useful in treating renal TB. Chinese medicine has allowed us another choice of antituberculous treatment, avoiding the hepatotoxicity of the standard therapeutic regimen. Therefore, the use of Chinese herbs has the potential of reducing the morbidity and mortality rate of this disease.