Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction decreases IL-6 levels in patients with acute pancreatitis

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.