Fu's subcutaneous needling for orthostatic hypotension due to Guillain-Barré syndrome: A case report

Abstract

A 28-year-old female developed symptoms of frequent dizziness and occasional syncope while standing up, accompanied by paresthesia in her extremities and occasional constipation. She was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). Her upright blood pressure was undetectable, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed protein–leukocyte separation. A nerve conduction study showed that the sensory nerves of her lower limbs had been injured, but the motor nerves were almost normal. She was treated with immunotherapy and hormonotherapy, which partially relieved her paresthesia and constipation. However, her orthostatic hypotension (OH) persisted after two months of treatment. After three courses of treatment consisting of Fu's subcutaneous needling, OH significantly improved, with a much less pronounced decrease (<20 mmHg) in systolic blood pressure in the upright position than observed before treatment. She was symptom-free and able to stand and walk for short distances after 3 months of follow-up. This case indicates that Fu's subcutaneous needling treatment is effective for OH caused by GBS, and it may be a suitable alternative when conventional treatment does not produce ideal results.

Keywords

• Orthostatic hypotension
• Guillain–Barré syndrome
• Fu's subcutaneous needling