Astragalus membranaceus as a cause of increased CA19-9 and liver and kidney cysts: a case report.

OBJECTIVE

Astragalus membranaceus, one of the most common Chinese herbs, is widely used to prevent and treat a variety of diseases. Very few adverse reactions, caused by A. membranaceus, have been reported in the literature. The purpose of this article was to report a case of marked increase in carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and the formation of liver and kidney cysts following oral administration of A. membranaceus.

METHODS

A 38-year-old woman was found to have a high serum CA19-9 level (156 U/mL) at her routine annual examination. On follow-up, several small cysts were found in her left kidney and liver by CT scan. Her medical history showed that she had taken Astragalus tea every day for 1 month. One month after she stopped taking it, the CA19-9 level decreased to 40·19 U/mL. Ten months later, PET-CT showed that there were no liver and kidney cysts. However, she took Astragalus powder again in the second year and 1 month later her CA19-9 level increased again to more than 1000 U/mL. Several small cysts were again seen in her left kidney and liver by enhanced CT. Her CA19-9 level gradually became normal after she stopped taking the Astragalus powder.

CONCLUSIONS

This case strongly suggests that oral administration of A. membranaceus may lead to increase in CA19-9 and the formation of liver and kidney cysts.