AIM: To compare the expressions of CCR3 on T lymphocytes and/or eosinophil peripheral blood cell surface before and after liangxue huayu in treatment of choroidal neovascularization(CNV)in exudative age-related macular degeneration(AMD)and explore the mechanism of the incidence of CNV on exudative AMD.

METHODS: Totally 32 cases of exudative AMD patients, 44 cases of atrophic AMD patients and 50 healthy subjects were observed. 32 cases of exudative AMD patients were treated by liangxue huayu decoction and the expressions of CCR3 on T lymphocytes and/or eosinophil peripheral blood cell surface were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: The expressions of CCR3 on T lymphocytes and/or eosinophil peripheral blood cell surface of the patients with exudative AMD were higher than the control group of healthy people(P<0.01); The expressions of CCR3 on T lymphocytes and/or eosinophil peripheral blood cell surface were no significant difference between the patients with atrophic AMD and the control group of healthy people(P>0.05); The expressions of CCR3 on T lymphocytes and/or eosinophil peripheral blood cell surface were no significant difference after liangxue huayu on treatment of CNV on exudative AMD(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The CNV formation of exudative AMD may be related to the higher expressions of CCR3 on T lymphocytes and/or eosinophil cell surface. Liangxue huayu decoction is effective in treating exudative age-related macular degeneration CNV, but it is not related with the expression of CCR3.