A Case Report of a Patient with Guillain-Barre Syndrome Who Complained of Quadriplegia

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the improvement of Guillain-Barre syndrome after long-term combination treatment with Korean medicine.Methods: A patient was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome and treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, and exercise, including quadruped walking after three hospital admissions. To evaluate muscle strength and weakness, we measured manual muscle function, gait pattern, and the speed of quadruped walking.Results: The patient's muscle weakness in the extremities and gait stance were improved. The speed of quadruped walking was increased.Conclusion: We consider that combined treatment with Korean medicine might be effective for the muscle weakness of Guillain-Barre syndrome with a poor prognostic factor. To verify the effectiveness of this treatment, further research is needed.

Analysis of Research Trends in Korean Medicine Treatment for Guillain-Barre Syndrome in Korea

“…A total of 14 studies were selected, all of which were case reports [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]…”

“…In the 14 studies reviewed, acupuncture treatment was performed once or twice a day. There were 13 studies using a single size needle, four studies using 0.20 × 30 mm [12,16,17,22], three studies using 0.25 × 40 mm [10,18,19], four studies using 0.25 × 30 mm [13,15,21,23], one study using 0.30 × 30 mm [14], and one study using 0.30 x 40 mm [20]. In one study [11], two different sizes of needles, 0.20 × 30 mm and 0.25 × 30 mm, were used.…”

“…The frequency of acupuncture treatment was not counted in duplicate in the same case regardless of the type of acupuncture (manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, or pharmacopuncture). Pharmacopuncture was used in f ive studies [10,12,15,17,18]. Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture was used in three studies [10,15,16], jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture was used in two studies [10,12], and Shinbaro pharmacopuncture [18], snake venom toxin pharmacopuncture [17], and sweet bee venom (BV) [12] were used in one study each.…”

“…Pharmacopuncture was used in f ive studies [10,12,15,17,18]. Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture was used in three studies [10,15,16], jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture was used in two studies [10,12], and Shinbaro pharmacopuncture [18], snake venom toxin pharmacopuncture [17], and sweet bee venom (BV) [12] were used in one study each. The acupoints most frequently used were in areas with complaints of weakness and pain.…”

“…Both decoctions and extract products were administered three times a day. Shipjeondaebotang Gami (n = 4) was used in four studies [10,12,16,22] and Bojungikgitang Gami was used in two studies [13,21]. Herbal medicine complex prescriptions and herbal medicines that were used to treat symptoms other than GBS symptoms were excluded.…”