Treatment of early hypertensive renal damage with Quanduzhong capsules: two case reports

Hypertensive nephropathy is increasingly prevalent and a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Current treatment strategies for hypertensive nephropathy focus on blood pressure control and reducing urinary albumin. However, the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) medications carries risks, including a potential decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This report aims to assess the clinical effectiveness of Quanduzhong capsules (QDZCs) in early-stage hypertensive kidney damage, contributing to the evidence base for their use in traditional Chinese medicine for hypertension treatment.

The patients, two middle-aged gentlemen with over a decade of hypertension in their medical history, were currently in the early phase of grade 1 hypertension. Notably, their blood pressure readings consistently exceeded the normal parameters. Furthermore, they exhibited signs of microalbuminuria and proteinuria in their clinical presentations. Based on these symptoms, they received a diagnosis of hypertensive kidney damage, specifically at the microalbuminuria stage.

After admission, the two patients took QDZCs for treatment. The medication method was: 2 times a day, 3 capsules each time. The results showed that the microalbuminuria of case 1 and the proteinuria of case 2 were reduced within 12 weeks after taking the medicine, and the average 24-h blood pressure was also reduced. Case 2 experienced a slight decrease in creatinine clearance and glomerular filtration rate after treatment, but the difference was not significant. During the 12-week follow-up period, there were no significant abnormalities in serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine clearance, and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

This case report shows that Quanduzhong capsule can lower blood pressure and improve symptoms of microalbuminuria and proteinuria in patients with early hypertensive renal damage, and may provide a promising treatment option for the management of early hypertensive renal damage. However, the evidence is preliminary and larger, controlled studies are needed to determine its efficacy and potential advantages.