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Ochratoxin A and Aristolochic Acid Involvement in Nephropathies and Associated Urothelial Tract Tumours Cover

Ochratoxin A and Aristolochic Acid Involvement in Nephropathies and Associated Urothelial Tract Tumours

Open Access
|Jan 2010

Abstract

This review addresses the unresolved aetiology of several nephropathies and associated upper tract tumours diagnosed all over the world, but especially in the Balkan regions. Studies conducted over the last 35 years point to mycotoxins, mainly ochratoxin A (OTA) as the main culprit. Recent theories however have implicated aristolochic acids (AA). The aim of this review is to put forward arguments in favour of the mycotoxin theory and to show the incoherence of the AA theory. It discusses the differences between the epidemiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN); OTA and AA carcinogenicity; clinical and pathological effects induced by OTA and AA; sources of OTA contamination (food, air, drinking water); OTA- and AA-DNA adduct formation; the role of genetic polymorphisms; and the risk for young children.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-60-2009-2000 | Journal eISSN: 1848-6312 | Journal ISSN: 0004-1254
Language: English, Slovenian
Page range: 465 - 483
Published on: Jan 7, 2010
Published by: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2010 Annie Pfohl-Leszkowicz, published by Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License.

Volume 60 (2009): Issue 4 (December 2009)