Renal tubular acidosis, hypokalemic paralysis, rhabdomyolysis, and acute renal failure--a rare presentation of Chinese herbal nephropathy.

We encountered a 66-year-old Chinese man presented with hypokalemic paralysis, rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure after administration of mixed Chinese herbs. Proximal renal tubular acidosis and selective glucosuria were the main tubular dysfunctions. The renal failure recovered smoothly and rapidly after resuscitation and the tubular function abnormalities regained spontaneously after medicine withdrawal. It should be recognized that renal tubular acidosis with hypokalemic paralysis, rhabdomyolysis and subsequent acute renal failure may develop after taking Chinese mixed herbal medicine.