Acupuncture as an Adjunct Treatment in Stiff Person Syndrome

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine
• Oncology

Background:

• Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disorder with limited treatment options, often necessitating non-pharmacologic approaches.
• This case involves a 60-year-old female with SPS secondary to ovarian cancer, experiencing spasticity, pain, insomnia, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Observation:

• The patient presented with significant muscle spasticity, low back and hip flexor pain, insomnia, and reduced quality of life.
• Acupuncture, including body, electro-, and auricular acupuncture, was administered weekly for nine weeks as an adjunct to IVIG therapy.

Findings:

• Significant improvements were observed in spinal mobility (forward and lateral bending) within 4 treatments.
• While overall health rating remained unchanged, other quality of life measures improved, and timed activity tests showed sustained improvement after week 5.
• Acupuncture effectively managed painful spasticity, insomnia, and enhanced functional capacity in this SPS patient.

Implications:

• Acupuncture can be a valuable adjunct therapy for managing the debilitating sequelae of stiff person syndrome.
• This case highlights the potential of acupuncture to improve quality of life and function in rare neurological disorders.
• Further research is warranted to establish optimized acupuncture protocols for stiff person syndrome.