Interstitial lung disease induced by the roots of Achyranthes japonica Nakai: Three case reports

Do-Sik Moon; Sung-Ho Yoon; Seung-Il Lee; Sang-Gon Park; Yong-Sub Na

doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i8.2015

Interstitial lung disease induced by the roots of Achyranthes japonica Nakai: Three case reports

World J Clin Cases. 2021 Mar 16;9(8):2015-2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i8.2015.

Authors

Do-Sik Moon¹, Sung-Ho Yoon¹, Seung-Il Lee¹, Sang-Gon Park², Yong-Sub Na³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju 61453, South Korea.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Hemato-Oncology, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju 61453, South Korea.
³ Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju 61453, South Korea. ebusters@chosun.ac.kr.

Abstract

Background: The roots of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN), called "Useul-puli," has been traditionally used to control pain and improve dysfunction in osteoarthritis patients in South Korea.

Case summary: We described 3 patients diagnosed with herbal medicine induced interstitial lung disease after consuming boiled the roots of AJN. They were referred to our hospital because of the modified Medical Research Council grade 4 dyspnea. Chest computed tomography showed bilateral ground-glass opacities with patchy consolidation. After treatment with systemic glucocorticoid therapy and discontinuation of the roots of AJN, their symptoms improved, and almost all ground-glass opacities and patchy consolidations on chest radiography and chest computed tomography resolved.

Conclusion: We present three cases of interstitial lung disease induced by the roots of AJN.

Keywords: Achyranthes japonica Nakai; Case report; Herb; Interstitial lung disease.

Publication types

Case Reports