Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of chymotrypsin combined with budesonide in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)and its mechanism.Methods A total of 120 patients with AECOPD were selected and randomly divided into study group and control group,with 60 cases in each group.The treatment method for the study group was basic therapy+chymotrypsin+budesonide,and the treatment method for the control group was basic therapy+budesonide.The course of treatment was 4 weeks.The pulmonary function indices,blood gas analysis indices,pe-ripheral circRNA homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 3(circRNA-HIPK3),mucin 5AC(MUC5AC),and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups before treatment and after 4 weeks of treatment.Results There were no significant diffe-rences in the baseline levels of the first second forced expiratory volume(FEV1),forced vital capacity(FVC),FEV1/FVC,and end-expiratory peak flow rate(PEF)before treatment between the two groups(P>0.05).The changes in FEV1,FVC,and PEF after treatment in the study group were significantly greater than those in the control group(t=2.840-10.626,P<0.05).There were no significant differences in pH,PaO2,and PaCO2 between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05);the changes in pH,PaO2,and PaCO2 after treatment in the study group were significantly greater than those in the control group(t=6.331-6.416,P<0.05).There were no significant differences in circRNA-HIPK3 and MUC5AC levels between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05);the changes in circRNA-HIPK3 and MUC5AC in peripheral blood after treatment in the study group were significantly greater than those in the control group(t=2.833,3.250;P<0.05).The treatment effect of the study group was significantly better than that of the control group(Z=-1.461,P<0.05).Conclusion Treatment with chymotrypsin plus budesonide is more ef-fective in improving lung function and blood gas indices in patients with AECOPD,reducing circRNA-HIPK3 and MUC5AC levels in peripheral blood,and improving the clinical therapeutic effect.