Membranous Nephropathy Associated With Indigenous Indian Medications Containing Heavy Metals

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. About 80% of MN cases are primary, whereas the rest result from multiple secondary causes.1 In the early days of modern medicine, mercurial organic compounds were used as diuretics, laxatives, and anti-infective agents. The use of mercury as a pharmacologic agent was abandoned by modern medicine owing to the toxic effects. However, various indigenous medical systems continue to use multiple forms of mercury. Chronic mercury exposure has been reported to be associated with a variety of renal manifestations, including acute tubular necrosis and tubulointerstitial nephritis.