Abstract:Objective To investigate the effects of traditional Chinese medicine Tongfu Jiedu Decoction combined with continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) on tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Forty patients with SAP for 72 h were randomly divided into two groups, i.e. control group (n = 20) and treatment group (n = 20). In the control group, the patients were given a series of procedures including fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, fluid resuscitation, inhibition of pancreatic secretion, antibiotic prophylaxis, parenteral nutrition and symptomatic therapy. In the treatment group, the patients received additional traditional Chinese medicine Tongfu Jiedu Decoction combined with CVVH treatment (also called continuous renal replacement therapy, CRRT). The concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were compared between both groups before treatment and 72 hours after treatment. Vital signs, blood gas analysis, biochemical indexes, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE Ⅱ) score, and Ranson's score were evaluated in both groups before and after treatment. Results After 72 hours of treatment, the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 in the treatment group declined more remarkably than those in the control group with statistical significance (P < 0.01); the related symptoms like fever, respiratory distress were alleviated more significantly in the treatment group. In both treatment group and control group after treatment, the related indicators like serum amylase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, serum creatinine and urea-nitrogen significantly decreased (P < 0.05); and the mean arterial pressure gradually increased, blood oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) and oxygenation index significantly increased. The intestinal paralysis time and the average time of hospitalization were shortened, the incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome decreased (P < 0.05). After treatment for 7 days, the APACHE Ⅱ score (sub) and Ranson's score (sub) in the treatment group declined more remarkably than those in the control group with statistical significance (P < 0.01), but the differences in hospitalization costs had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Conclusions Traditional Chinese medicine Tongfu Jiedu Decoction combined with CVVH could remove part of proinflammatory factors, alleviate the inflammatory reaction and improve the clinical efficacy in the treatment of SAP. It could be used as one of the important auxiliary treatments for SAP.