Objective:In this paper,we investigated the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction(CQCQD) on serum cytokines in acute pancreatitis(AP) patients.Methods:Peripheral blood samples from 107 AP patients were collected within the first 48 h of AP onset and on the 10th day of CQCQD treatment.Control samples were collected from 20 healthy individuals.Serum proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6),and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-1β receptor antagonist(IL-1ra) were examined using the Luminex 100 system.Results:Within the first 48 h of AP onset,IL-6 and IL-1ra levels in severe AP(SAP) patients were significantly higher than those in mild AP(MAP) patients,but IL-10 levels in SAP patients were significantly lower than those in MAP patients.Proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 was significantly decreased after CQCQD treatment(P<0.05),especially in SAP patients(n=25 of 36,P<0.05).The hospitalization time of SAP patients was shortened significantly when serum IL-6 decreased after CQCQD treatment(P<0.05).Conclusions:CQCQD decreased proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 levels in AP patients.
