Effect of electroacupuncture for reducing the frequency of recurrent cystitis: a case report. 电针减少复发性膀胱炎发作次数:1例病例报告

Abstract Introduction Recurrent cystitis, defined as at least two episodes within six months or three episodes within one year, presented among about one fifth to one-third of women with history of cystitis or urinary tract infection (UTI) according to previous studies. However, the use of antibiotics can only resolve the urinary symptoms but not reduce the frequency of urinary symptoms recurrence, and meanwhile increasing rates of adverse effect of repetitive antimicrobial therapy and bacterial antimicrobial resistance became clinical concerns. This case report aims to present a case of recurrent cystitis treated by electroacupuncture (EA) in reducing recurrent frequency, amount of antibiotics used and urinary symptoms. Case presentation A 42-year-old woman diagnosed with recurrent cystitis for five years presented mainly with recurrent dysuria, urine frequency and urgency. She received EA treatment 3 to 5 sessions a week and 30 min per session from August 2019 to August 2020 with 3-month suspension due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). During the treatment, both the frequency of recurrent urinary episode and symptoms were reduced. Although there was some fluctuation, the mean frequencies of daytime voiding reduced dramatically from 17.7 to 8.3, and night-time voiding from 4 to 1, and the number of voiding with moderate urgency was reduced from 17.7 to 2.3, and severe urgency dropped from 2.7 to 0. The patient's scores of overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) and overactive bladder questionnaire short form (OAB-q SF) were also improved. The postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) reduced from 42 mL to less than 10 mL. Conclusion This case of individual effect of EA for a woman with frequent recurrent cystitis suggested a plausible benefit of EA on reducing frequency, amount of antibiotics used and symptoms of recurrent cystitis, but further research is necessary to proof the efficacy and effectiveness among a wider population.