Objective

2

To observe the clinical efficacy of Sheti Zhiqiu decoction combined with intradermal needling in treatment of allergic rhinitis （AR） of deficient cold of lung Qi syndrome and its effect on cytokines of helper T cell 17 （Th17） and regulatory T cells （Treg）.

Method

2

A total of 105 patients with AR of deficient cold of lung Qi syndrome were randomly divided into traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） group， combination group and western medicine group， with 35 cases in each group. The TCM group was treated with Sheti Zhiqiu decoction， 1 dose a day. The combination group was treated with intradermal needling in addition to the therapy of the TCM group. The selected acupoints were Yintang， bilateral Yingxiang， Fengchi， Feishu and Zusanli. The needles were retained for 3 days before being replaced. The western medicine group was treated with mometasone furoate nasal spray， 100 μg/time at each side of the nasal cavity，

qd

， and desloratadine citrate tablet， 8.8 mg/time，

qd

. Three groups were treated for 4 weeks and followed up for 3 months. Nasal and ocular symptom scores and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire （RQLQ） scores of patients in three groups were observed before and after treatment. Levels of serum interleukin-17 （IL-17）， interleukin-10 （IL-10） and transforming growth factor-

β

1

（TGF-

β

1

） were measured before and after treatment. The clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated， and the disease recurrence rate was observed during the follow-up period.

Result

2

Compared with before treatment， nasal and ocular symptom scores and total score， and RQLQ scores and total score of patients in three groups were significantly decreased after treatment （

P

<

0.01）. Compared with the TCM group and the western medicine group after treatment， except for eyes itching/foreign body sensation/red eyes score， nasal and ocular symptom scores and total score， and RQLQ scores and total score of the combination group were lower（

P

<

0.05，

P

<

0.01）. Compared with before treatment， level of serum IL-17 of patients in three groups was significantly decreased （

P

<

0.01）， while levels of IL-10 and TGF-

β

1

were significantly increased after treatment （

P

<

0.01）. Compared with the TCM group and the western medicine group after treatment， level of serum IL-17 was lower， whereas levels of IL-10 and TGF-

β

1

were higher in the combination group （

P

<

0.05，

P

<

0.01）. The clinical efficacy of the combination group was better than that of the TCM medicine group and the western medicine group （Z=-2.207，Z=-2.185，

P

<

0.05）. There was no significant difference in recurrence rate between combination group and the TCM group， and the recurrence rate of both groups was lower than that of the western medicine group（

χ

2

=5.020，

χ

2

=4.835，

P

<

0.05）. There was no significant adverse reaction during the treatment period in three groups.

Conclusion

2

Sheti Zhiqiu decoction combined with intradermal needling is effective in treatment of patients with AR of deficient cold of lung Qi syndrome. It can significantly relieve patients' symptoms， improve patients' quality of life and reduce disease recurrence. It may play a role by regulating immune balance of Th17/Treg of patients and improving their immune function.