Sympathetic block with botulinum toxin to treat complex regional pain syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome is a refractory pain condition with few tested therapies. We hypothesized that botulinum toxin A (BTA) would prolong analgesia after sympathetic blocks in patients with complex regional pain syndrome. We compared the duration of standard lumbar sympathetic block (LSB) with bupivacaine to LSB with bupivacaine and BTA in nine patients with refractory complex regional pain syndrome. Median time to analgesic failure was 71 (95% confidence interval, 12–253) days after LSB with BTA compared with fewer than 10 days (95% confidence interval, 0–12) after standard LSB (log‐rank, p < 0.02). BTA profoundly prolonged the analgesia from sympathetic block in this preliminary study. Ann Neurol 2009;65:348–351     

High doses of botulinum toxin effectively treat disabling up-going toe

Involuntary up-going toe can be a disabling consequence of dystonia or spasticity. In this study, we treated eight patients with botulinum toxin (BTx) in the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) and applied objective and subjective outcome measures to determine treatment efficacy. Using 100% higher doses than generally reported, patients noted 62+/-20% mean benefit and scores on a modified Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Scale decreased significantly by 1.8+/-0.6 (p=0.010). High doses (up to 160 BTx A units) into the EHL were safe and dosage correlated highly and significantly with treatment efficacy (rho=0.859, p=0.006).     

两种浓度A型肉毒毒素治疗偏侧面肌痉挛的疗效比较

目的　评估两种浓度A型肉毒毒素治疗偏侧面肌痉挛的疗效 ,并探讨减少其并发症的方法。方法　将 60例患者随机分为A、B两组 ,A组对上、下睑及面肌进行多点注射 ,A型肉毒毒素 (BTA)浓度为 5 0u/0 1ml,B组注射浓度为 2 2 5u/0 1ml。比较两组间疗效、副作用发生情况。结果　两组治疗疗效相似 ,总有效率为 10 0 % ,A组症状完全缓解 18例 (60 % ) ,明显缓解 6例(2 0 % ) ,部分缓解 6例 (2 0 % ) ,总显效率 80 % ;B组完全缓解 16例 (5 3 3 % ) ,明显缓解 6例 (2 0 % ) ,部分缓解 8例 (2 6 7% ) ,总显效率73 3 %。两组均无过敏和全身中毒反应 ,但A组出现上睑下垂、眼睑闭合不全、视物模糊等不良反应例数明显增多 ,差异显著 ,P <0 0 5。结论　BTA治疗面肌痉挛以小剂量为宜。A型肉毒毒素治疗偏侧面肌痉挛安全有效 ,简单易行 ,副作用少而轻微、短暂 ,为治疗面肌痉挛的首选方法     

Treating headaches with botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin type A (BT-a) has been shown to effectively treat several types of neurological disorders. For over 15 years it has been used clinically also for the prophylaxis and treatment of various types of primary headache disorders. Although BT-a efficacy has not been proven in tension-type headache, its use in migraine continues to cause controversy. There is adequate data to support the hypothesis, beside its well known effect on acetylcholine release, of an additional antinociceptive effect related to a block in the local release of nociceptive neuropeptides.     

Use of botulinum toxin to treat blepharospasm in a 16-year-old with a dystonic syndrome

A 16-year-old boy with generalized dystonia had continuous, severe blepharospasm and facial grimacing. Local intradermal injections of botulinum A toxin greatly reduced the spasms and improved function. No side effects were observed. Local botulinum A toxin injections may be useful in the treatment of eyelid and facial spasms in patients with generalized dystonias.     

Treatment of headaches with botulinum toxin

Primary headache disorders, such as migraine, chronic daily headache (CDH), and chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), are some of the most frequent disorders encountered by physicians in the outpatient setting. Chronic headache disorders cause significant morbidity and functional impairment. Despite important advances in both pharmacological and behavioral management of headache disorders, a number of patients remain treatment resistant. Botulinum toxin (BT) is emerging as a new therapeutic alternative in the preventative treatment of headaches. BT has several advantages over current prophylactic strategies, such as reduced side-effect profile and improved patient compliance. Furthermore, there have been several studies supporting the safety and tolerability of BT in the treatment of headache disorders. Although additional large-scale studies are needed to clarify clinical predictors of response as well as optimal dosing, injection sites and mechanism of action, BT has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of migraines and CDH. The evidence for the treatment for CTTH is less compelling.     

Some unresolved issues with botulinum toxin

Issues concerning botulinum toxin still need resolution in the laboratory and clinic. Assay nomenclature is unsatisfactory and attempts to establish common units and / or equivalents are misguided and dangerous. Optimum toxin concentrations for most indications are unknown. Loss of response is too readily ascribed to antibody formation. New therapeutic indications for toxin raise the possibility of additional mechanisms of action.

     

Some unresolved issues with botulinum toxin

Issues concerning botulinum toxin still need resolution in the laboratory and clinic. Assay nomenclature is unsatisfactory and attempts to establish common units and/or equivalents are misguided and dangerous. Optimum toxin concentrations for most indications are unknown. Loss of response is too readily ascribed to antibody formation. New therapeutic indications for toxin raise the possibility of additional mechanisms of action.     

Treatment of hemifacial spasm with botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin (BT) injections were used over a two year period to treat 66 patients with disabling hemifacial spasm (HFS). Good to excellent results were obtained in 89.2% of patients for a mean period of 18 weeks. Temporary side effects occurred in about 20% of individuals EMG guidance was of assistance in injecting the lower half of the face. MRI imaging was far superior to CT scanning in the investigation of HFS.     

Treatment of spasticity with botulinum toxin]

Spasticity following upper motor neuron lesion can be alleviated by few treatments such as physiotherapy, drugs and neurosurgery. However, they all have side effects, limitations or lack of selectivity. We tentatively used the paralyzing effects of botulinum toxin. Since the late 1970's the use of this toxin has increased and it has been extended to numerous muscles and diseases of various causes. In this pilot and open study we use botulinum toxin in spasticity. Eight patients (7 stroke, 1 head injury) with longstanding severe spasticity (minimum: 12 months, maximum: 15 years) were included. Spasticity greatly interfered with their activity in daily life and was resistant to oral antispastic medications. Six patients suffered from pain and 4 had cutaneous lesions especially maceration of the palm of the hand. A-botulinum toxin was injected with a 30-gauged needle. The sites chosen for injection were the following muscles: biceps brachii, brachioradialis, flexor digitorum, flexor carpi, tibialis anterior, flexor digitorum longus. Altogether 41 injections were performed. There were no side effects. Spasticity was improved in all patients. Five patients reported significant pain relief on a visual analogical scale. Most of them reported a benefit in their limb tone and referred to subjective improvement in the activity of daily life and nursing. The beneficial effects of one injection lasted more than 5 months. Seven patients received a second course of treatment. A double-blind study of botulinum toxin in spasticity is to be undertaken to assess its effectiveness and safety when prescribed in the required dose to treat this condition.     

Treatment with botulinum toxin: An update

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is a potent toxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium clostridium botulinum. It causes flaccid, long-lasting, local and reversible paralysis. In addition, BoNT inhibits the secretion of the exocrine glands and could have properties in the control of pain. Thus, BoNT is useful in the treatment of many neuromuscular conditions where an increase of muscle tone is associated with the pathogenic mechanism. Furthermore, BoNT is recommended in the treatment of some hypersecretion disorders of the exocrine gland and could play a role in the treatment of migraine and other chronic pain conditions. In the BoNT therapy adverse effects are usually mild and reversible. However, repeated injections of BoNT can lead to the development of neutralizing antibodies that can subsequently inhibit the biological activity of the toxin. In this sense, many factors can influence the immunogenicity of the BoNT, such as product-related factors, the dose of BoNT used, the frequency of injection and the previous exposure to the toxin. In this review, we are going to discuss the current clinical applications of BoNT with a special focus on evidence, doses, injection technique and adverse effects for those applications more frequently used in neurology, namely spasticity, blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, cervical dystonia and other focal dystonias, as well as chronic migraine, tremor, sialorrhea, facial palsy, neurogenic bladder and many other neurological condition.     

Treatment of gustatory sweating with botulinum toxin

Gustatory sweating is an autonomic disorder that frequently occurs after parotid gland surgery. We investigated the action of intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin (BTX) (1.0–2.0 mouse units/2.25-cm² skin area) in 45 patients (mean age, 52 years) with gustatory sweating. The area of hyperhidrosis was determined by Minor's iodine test before and up to 24 weeks after the injection. The effect of BTX was assessed by measuring the hyperhidrotic area. The maximum BTX-induced reduction of gustatory sweating was seen at 7.4 · 4.5 days after injection. The area of sweating decreased from 17.6 · 8.6 cm² before BTX to 1.3 · 1.6 cm² after BTX (p < 0.0001). Half the patients rated gustatory sweating subjectively as completely abolished, and the remainder felt pronounced improvement. No toxic effects were observed. In none of the patients did hyperhidrosis recur over a 6-month follow-up. We conclude that BTX is a safe and effective treatment that can be recommended as the therapy of choice in gustatory sweating.