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Treatment of postprandial hypotension with acarbose in an adult with cervical spinal cord injury: a case report

Spinal Cord Series and Cases volume 9, Article number: 56 (2023) Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Introduction

Postprandial hypotension is a type of autonomic dysfunction where there is a decrease in systolic blood pressure of >20 mm HG within 2 h after eating thought to be due to poor cardiovascular compensation for splanchnic blood pooling that occurs with meals. This form of autonomic dysfunction is underdiagnosed in patients with spinal cord injury, likely in part because it can be asymptomatic.

Case presentation

26-year-old with complete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) presented with neck pain described as severe 10/10 pain, which felt like “a rope around his neck.” Pain came on during and after meals and was associated with a feeling of pressure behind his eyes, white spots in his vision along with feeling as if he was going to pass out. The caregiver noted a systolic blood pressure drop by about 30–40 points with meals and lost weight due to avoiding eating. A diagnosis of post-prandial hypotension (PPH) was made and Acarbose was started at a low dose 25 mg three times per day with meals. During follow up, the patient reported complete resolution of drops of blood pressure, neck pain, and all associated symptoms. The patient was able to eat comfortably and gained weight.

Discussion

There are few case reports on PPH in SCI and none looking at acarbose on a young, nondiabetic person with SCI. Clinicians should be aware that PPH can occur in young otherwise healthy people with SCI. Further research is needed on PPH, including the use of acarbose, in the SCI population.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this report are included in this published article.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA

    Sabrina S. Dieffenbach & Hannah Aura Shoval

  2. Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ, USA

    Hannah Aura Shoval

Authors
  1. Sabrina S. Dieffenbach
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  2. Hannah Aura Shoval
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Contributions

SD collected information, reviewed information, and wrote the manuscript. HS cared for study patient and helped with writing the manuscript. SD and HS agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work related to accuracy and integrity of the work.

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Correspondence to Sabrina S. Dieffenbach.

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Dieffenbach, S.S., Shoval, H.A. Treatment of postprandial hypotension with acarbose in an adult with cervical spinal cord injury: a case report. Spinal Cord Ser Cases 9, 56 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-023-00613-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-023-00613-2

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