Is Aristolochic Acid Really the Cause of the Balkan Endemic Nephropathy?

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Peter George Mantle
Diana Herman
Calin Tatu

Abstract

In recent years, aristolochic acid has been promoted vigorously as the causal agent of the Balkan endemic nephropathy because of similarities to some other nephropathies, association with DNA adducts and a perception of human exposure via bread. Critical evaluation of the literature exposes flaws in these aspects, and there has been consistent failure of experimental toxicology to mimic either the slow silent bilateral atrophy of the Balkan disease or the transitional cell carcinomas in the upper urothelium. It seems yet premature to promote the curious Balkan disease as aristolochic acid nephropathy without the epidemiological rigour necessary in biomedical research.

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    How to Cite
    Mantle, P. G., Herman, D., & Tatu, C. (2016). Is Aristolochic Acid Really the Cause of the Balkan Endemic Nephropathy?. Journal of Controversies in Biomedical Research, 2(1), 9–20. https://doi.org/10.15586/jcbmr.2016.14
    Section
    Review Articles
    Author Biographies

    Peter George Mantle, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Emeritus Professor

    Diana Herman, Department of Pathology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Medical doctor; Consultant Pathologist

    Calin Tatu, Department of Biology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Timisoara, Romania

    Medical doctor; Bio-medical scientist