From "Wind, Heat, Dampness, and Stasis" to Mesangial Proliferation: A Systematic Review of the Correlation between the Evolution of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pathogenesis and Micro-Pathology in IgA Nephropathy
Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine Research DOI: 10.32629/jcmr.v7i2.5321
Abstract
IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerular disease globally, characterized by mesangial IgA deposition and clinical signs like hematuria and proteinuria. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) classifies this disease under concepts such as "Kidney Wind." Contemporary TCM scholars have refined its pathogenesis into four key elements: "wind, heat, dampness, and stasis." This paper systematically reviews recent research on the correlation between TCM syndromes of IgAN and renal tissue pathology. It explores how "wind, heat, dampness, and stasis" correspond to micro-pathological changes such as mesangial proliferation and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. The study proposes a pathogenic evolution axis: "Wind-heat disturbing the kidney → Dampness and stasis binding → Kidney collateral stagnation". Research indicates that wind-heat combination often corresponds to acute mesangial cell proliferation. Dampness encumbrance is closely related to increased mesangial matrix. Stasis runs through the entire course, becoming prominent in glomerulosclerosis and fibrosis. This correlation model provides theoretical support for integrated diagnosis and treatment.
Keywords
IgA nephropathy; TCM pathogenesis; wind-heat-dampness-stasis; mesangial proliferation; micro-pathology; correlation
Full Text
PDF - Viewed/Downloaded: 5 TimesReferences
[1] Zhang, H., Li, J.M., & Liu, W.J. (2020). Analysis of the epidemiology and pathological characteristics of IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Nephrology, 36(4), 261-266.
[2] Wang, Y.J. (2015). Theoretical discussion and clinical practice of treating IgA nephropathy from the perspective of "Kidney Wind". Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Nephrology, 16(2), 95-98.
[3] Chen, X.M., Xie, Y.S., & Cai, G.Y. (2018). Current status and reflections on the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnosis and treatment of IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 38(1), 12-16.
[4] Li, P. (2012). Re-recognizing the TCM disease name of IgA nephropathy and the theory of "Kidney Wind". Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53(14), 1181-1184.
[5] Wang, G., Zou, Y.Q., & Gong, L.Y. (1999). Study on the correlation between TCM syndrome differentiation and pathology in IgA nephropathy. Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 15(3), 137-139.
[6] Liu, B.H., Dai, E.L., & Li, Y.Y. (2016). Comparative analysis of TCM syndrome evolution patterns and micro-pathology in IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Nephrology, 17(5), 412-415.
[7] Zhang, N., Liu, Y.N., & Wang, Y.P. (2017). Study on the correlation between wind-heat syndrome and crescent formation in IgA nephropathy. Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 40(8), 678-682.
[8] Li, P. (2020). Correlation analysis between wind-heat syndrome and pathological activity indicators in IgA nephropathy. China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, 35(3), 1423-1426.
[9] Zhao, M.H., Zhang, H., & Zhou, F.D. (2019). Advances in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. National Medical Journal of China, 99(12), 881-884.
[10] Liu, H., Chen, N., & Ren, H. (2021). Relationship between severe heat syndrome and intrarenal inflammatory cytokine expression in IgA nephropathy. Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 55(2), 31-35.
[11] Chen, H.Y., Zhu, C.F., & Yu, D.R. (2018). Study on the correlation between dampness-turbidity syndrome and mesangial matrix accumulation in IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Nephrology, 19(7), 598-601.
[12] Zhou, D., Sun, W., & Xu, L.D. (2020). Clinical study on the correlation between dampness-turbidity syndrome and podocyte injury in IgA nephropathy. Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 36(4), 495-498.
[13] Liu, X.S., Lu, F.H., & Deng, L.L. (2019). Correlation analysis between blood stasis syndrome and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 39(6), 673-677.
[14] Sun, W., He, W.M., & Gao, K. (2020). Mechanistic study on the intervention of blood-activating and stasis-resolving methods on tubulointerstitial fibrosis in IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Nephrology, 21(3), 204-208.
[15] Wang, H.Y., Lv, J.C., & Zhang, H. (2021). Correlation analysis of TCM syndrome scores with eGFR and tubulointerstitial fibrosis index in IgA nephropathy. Chinese Archives of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 39(2), 56-59.
[2] Wang, Y.J. (2015). Theoretical discussion and clinical practice of treating IgA nephropathy from the perspective of "Kidney Wind". Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Nephrology, 16(2), 95-98.
[3] Chen, X.M., Xie, Y.S., & Cai, G.Y. (2018). Current status and reflections on the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnosis and treatment of IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 38(1), 12-16.
[4] Li, P. (2012). Re-recognizing the TCM disease name of IgA nephropathy and the theory of "Kidney Wind". Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 53(14), 1181-1184.
[5] Wang, G., Zou, Y.Q., & Gong, L.Y. (1999). Study on the correlation between TCM syndrome differentiation and pathology in IgA nephropathy. Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 15(3), 137-139.
[6] Liu, B.H., Dai, E.L., & Li, Y.Y. (2016). Comparative analysis of TCM syndrome evolution patterns and micro-pathology in IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Nephrology, 17(5), 412-415.
[7] Zhang, N., Liu, Y.N., & Wang, Y.P. (2017). Study on the correlation between wind-heat syndrome and crescent formation in IgA nephropathy. Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 40(8), 678-682.
[8] Li, P. (2020). Correlation analysis between wind-heat syndrome and pathological activity indicators in IgA nephropathy. China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, 35(3), 1423-1426.
[9] Zhao, M.H., Zhang, H., & Zhou, F.D. (2019). Advances in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. National Medical Journal of China, 99(12), 881-884.
[10] Liu, H., Chen, N., & Ren, H. (2021). Relationship between severe heat syndrome and intrarenal inflammatory cytokine expression in IgA nephropathy. Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 55(2), 31-35.
[11] Chen, H.Y., Zhu, C.F., & Yu, D.R. (2018). Study on the correlation between dampness-turbidity syndrome and mesangial matrix accumulation in IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Nephrology, 19(7), 598-601.
[12] Zhou, D., Sun, W., & Xu, L.D. (2020). Clinical study on the correlation between dampness-turbidity syndrome and podocyte injury in IgA nephropathy. Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 36(4), 495-498.
[13] Liu, X.S., Lu, F.H., & Deng, L.L. (2019). Correlation analysis between blood stasis syndrome and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 39(6), 673-677.
[14] Sun, W., He, W.M., & Gao, K. (2020). Mechanistic study on the intervention of blood-activating and stasis-resolving methods on tubulointerstitial fibrosis in IgA nephropathy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Nephrology, 21(3), 204-208.
[15] Wang, H.Y., Lv, J.C., & Zhang, H. (2021). Correlation analysis of TCM syndrome scores with eGFR and tubulointerstitial fibrosis index in IgA nephropathy. Chinese Archives of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 39(2), 56-59.
Copyright © 2026 Cunxin Bai, Jian Shi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
