Effect of Korean Medicine on Refractory Hypertriglyceridemia in a Quadriplegic Patient: A Case Report

Introduction: Managing hypertriglyceridemia in patients with severe physical disabilities is challenging because lifestyle modifications are often not feasible. This case report describes a quadriplegic patient whose refractory hypertriglyceridemia was successfully managed with Korean medicine.Case Presentation: A 55-year-old man with quadriplegia due to intracerebral hemorrhage presented with severe hypertriglyceridemia. Despite maximal-dose conventional lipid-lowering therapy, his triglyceride levels remained poorly controlled, peaking at 726 mg/dL. After initiation of Korean medicine, triglyceride levels stabilized within the range of 468–539 mg/dL over 3 months. After discontinuation of Korean medicine, triglyceride levels surged to 771 mg/dL, leading to multiple complications, including acute biliary pancreatitis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, and septic shock.Conclusion: This case suggests that Korean medicine may serve as an adjunctive therapy for refractory hypertriglyceridemia in patients for whom lifestyle interventions are limited.