OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Qingyi Decoction (QYD) in treating severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and its impacts on blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 and 8 (IL-6 and IL-8).

METHODSOne hundred and ten patients of SAP were equally randomized into the treated group and the control group, they were treated with the same therapeutic program excepting that QYD was given only to the treated group. The post-treatment incidence of severe complication, mortality and operation transferring rate, as well as the changes of APACHE II scores and blood levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 in patients of both groups were observed.

RESULTSThe incidences of the two severe complications, acute respiratory distress syndrome and intestinal paralysis, in the treated group was 3.6% and 5.4% respectively, while in the control group, 12.7% and 18.2%, showing statistical significance between groups (P < 0.05). The APACHE II score in the treated group decreased significantly on the 7th day, which was better than that in the control group (8.14 +/- 2.30 scores vs 3.35 +/- 2.20 scores, P < 0. 05). In addition, the efficacy in the treated group was also superior to that in the control group in terms of reducing mortality, operation transferring rate, and blood levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 on the 7th and 9th day (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONQYD could markedly improve the prognosis of SAP patients by way of lowering the blood levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8.