Abstract:AIM: To observe the changes of Th17-related cytokines in tears of patients with Liver-kidney Yin deficiency type conjunctivochalasis（CCH）treated with traditional Chinese medicine Qi Jing Mingmu decoction combined with artificial tears. METHODS: 56 cases of 56 eyes CCH patients with Liver-kidney Yin deficiency type CCH of grade Ⅱ to Ⅲ were collected and randomly divided into treatment group (treated with Qi Jing Mingmu decoction combined with artificial tears) of 26 patients (26 eyes) and the control group (purely treated with artificial tears) of 30 cases (30 eyes). The treatment course was one month, and international ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear film break-up time (BUT), tear meniscus height (TMH) and conjunctival congestion index of the patients were observed before and after treatment. The patients' tears were collected before and after treatment, and Th17-related cytokines in tears were detected by flow cytometry immunofluorescence luminescence method. All the results were statistically analyzed by SPSS. RESULTS: After one month of treatment, the OSDI, BUT and conjunctival congestion index of CCH patients in the treatment group and control group were significantly improved compared to before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all p < 0.05). After one month treatment, the TMH of CCH patients in the treatment group was significantly reduced compared to before treatment (p <0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in TMH of the control group before and after treatment (p =0.41). After one month treatment, the expression levels of Th17-related cytokines IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-6, IL-22, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-1β in tears of CCH patients in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared to before treatment (all p < 0.05), while the expression levels of Th17-related cytokines in tears of control group were not statistically significant (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Qi Jing Mingmu decoction combined with artificial tears can effectively improve the ocular surface microenvironment, enhance tear film stability, and inhibit ocular surface inflammation in CCH patients with Liver-kidney Yin deficiency type. This may be related to its reduction in the secretion of Th17-related cytokines in tears. KEYWORDS: conjunctivochalasis; Liver-kidney Yin deficiency type; Qi Jing Mingmu decoction; Th17; IL-17
