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CASE REPORT article

Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Neurodegeneration
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1499793

Effect of long-term transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in Multiple system atrophy-cerebellar subtype: A case report

Provisionally accepted
Zhao-Di Wang Zhao-Di Wang 1,2Xiaoping Cheng Xiaoping Cheng 1Zhen-Yi Liu Zhen-Yi Liu 1*Di Wu Di Wu 1*Jun Ni Jun Ni 1Chuan-Juan Chen Chuan-Juan Chen 1*Xin-Yuan Chen Xin-Yuan Chen 1*
  • 1 First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
  • 2 Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, Liaoning Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Multiple system atrophy-cerebellar subtype (MSA-C) is a predominance of cerebellar ataxia and autonomic failure. MSA-C has a rapid progression, with average 9 years from symptom onset to death. Despite its prevalence, there is still a lack of effective treatments. In recent years, it has been established that taVNS has significant therapeutic effects on epilepsy, depression, migraine, insomnia, and other diseases. Hence, we performed taVNS treatment for one MSA-C patient to explore whether taVNS could alleviate patient's motor and non-motor symptoms.Case presentation: A 65-year-old woman diagnosed with MSA-C received taVNS treatment for the following duration and course: once a day, 40 minutes a time, 20 times a month continually for 12 months. Meanwhile, she received assessments of motor and non-motor symptoms at baseline, 4-weeks and 12-months after taVNS treatment. Motor symptoms assessments was made by Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS), non-motor symptoms assessment by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). After 4-weeks and 12-months of taVNS treatment, compared to baseline assessments, SARA scores decreased from 13 to 11 and then to 10.5, UMSARS scores from 28 to 24 and then to 23, PSQI scores from 19 to 13 and then to 6, HAMA scores from 13 to 3 and then remained unchanged, and HAMD scores from 7 to 4 and then remained unchanged.In the case, we found that short-term taVNS treatment can alleviate ataxia, sleep problem, anxiety and depression of the MSA-C patient. The effects can be maintained and some symptoms may be further improved after receiving long-term treatment. Our case report supports the feasibility and effectiveness of taVNS treatment in MSA-C patients.

    Keywords: multiple system atrophy-cerebellar subtype, Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, case report, Ataxia, Sleep

    Received: 21 Sep 2024; Accepted: 28 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang, Cheng, Liu, Wu, Ni, Chen and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Zhen-Yi Liu, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
    Di Wu, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
    Chuan-Juan Chen, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
    Xin-Yuan Chen, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China

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