Objective: To explore the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes and medicine regularity in treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN) by using text mining technology. Method: Literature related to diabetic nephropathy TCM clinical trials were collected from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Access database was established

and SQL was used for data processing. Cytoscape software was used to visualize the results and analyze the TCM diagnosis and treatment characteristics in DN clinical trials. Result: In DN clinical trials

the common symptoms included spiritlessness and fatigue

soreness and weakness of waist and knees

as well as edema;common pathogenesis included obstruction of collaterals

injured Yin and consumed Qi

as well as blood flow obstruction;common syndromes included Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome

as well as Yin and Yang deficiency syndrome;commonly used formula included Liuwei Dihuang Wan

Buyang Huanwu Tang

and Zhenwu Tang;commonly used Chinese medicines included Astragali Radix

Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix

and Rehmanniae Radix. Conclusion: Obstruction of collaterals as well as Qi and Yin deficiency were considered as the DN pathogenesis characteristics. Supplementing Qi and activating blood circulation to remove stasis

as well as warming Yang and nourishing Yin to tonify the kidney were considered as the treatment characteristics. Using the method of text mining

we can explore the rules of TCM diagnosis and treatment in the clinical trials of diabetic nephropathy

and provide reference for clinical medication and further clinical research.