Corticosteroid adulteration in proprietary Chinese medicines: a recurring problem

• Published in: Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 411 - 416
• Main Authors: Chong, Y K, Ching, C K, Ng, S W, Mak, Tony W L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Chinese
• Published: China Hong Kong Academy of Medicine 01.10.2015
• Subjects: Abscesses; Adolescent; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - analysis; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - poisoning; Adrenal Insufficiency - chemically induced; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - analysis; Asthma; Child; Child, Preschool; Chinese medicine; Chromatography; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cushing Syndrome - chemically induced; Dexamethasone - analysis; Dexamethasone - poisoning; Diabetes; Drug Contamination; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - adverse effects; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - chemistry; Fatal Outcome; Female; Hepatitis; Histamine H1 Antagonists - analysis; Hong Kong; Hospitals; Humans; Iatrogenesis; Infant; Intensive care; Laboratories; Male; Mass spectrometry; Middle Aged; Pain; Patients; Pediatrics; Prednisone - analysis; Prednisone - poisoning; Proprietary; Psoriasis; Retrospective Studies; Scientific imaging; Skin diseases; Steroids; Toxicology; Tuberculosis; Ulcers; Young Adult; Hong Kong; Hong Kong China; China; Medicine, Chinese traditional; Dexamethasone; Adrenal cortex hormones

To investigate adulteration of proprietary Chinese medicines with corticosteroids in Hong Kong. Case series with cross-sectional analysis. A tertiary clinical toxicology laboratory in Hong Kong. All patients using proprietary Chinese medicines adulterated with corticosteroids and referred to the aut...