title: Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction decreases IL-6 levels in patients with acute pancreatitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Digestive Surgery and Department of Colorectal Surgery, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuan-yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Zong-guang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6