Botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of focal, axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis and other hyperhidrotic conditions

Focal essential hyperhidrosis is a common and often disabling disorder mainly involving the palms, axillae, face, and soles of the feet. Focal hyperhidrosis may also arise from several neurological or internal diseases. Current therapeutic options include topical aluminium chloride salts, systemic anticholinergic drugs, tap-water iontophoresis, and a number of surgical approaches. However, none of these are entirely satisfactory. In recent studies, injection of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) into the hyperhidrotic area has proved very effective in reducing or abolishing focal sweating of different aetiologies without major side effects. BTX-A therefore has the potential to replace more invasive therapies.     

Botulinum toxin type A: new therapeutic directions

Intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) have been used successfully to treat disorders such as cerebral palsy and cervical dystonia for many years. New and exciting directions for the toxin are currently under clinical investigation for a number of unlicensed indications including tension-type headache, myofascial pain and hyperhidrosis. Although research on BTX-A is prolific, there is still much to be learnt regarding the toxin's mode of action, clinical application and perhaps more importantly, its place in the overall treatment strategy implemented by physicians to ensure treatment is a success for both the patient and the physician. This review will focus on these issues, by outlining some of the future directions for BTX-A research.     

一孔法胸腔镜下交感神经链切断术治疗手汗症30例临床研究

目的探讨一孔法电视胸腔镜下T3或T4交感神经链及其侧支切断术治疗手汗症的可行性。方法在全麻双腔气管插管下施行T3或T4交感神经链及其侧支切断术治疗手汗症30例。结果30例手术均获成功,术后患者手掌多汗症状消失,有效率为100％,术后掌温升高（2．5±0．8）℃。30例随访1．5-12个月,平均8月,无一例复发及严重代偿性多汗．轻度代偿性多汗1例,占3．3％0／30）。结论一孔法电视胸腔镜下]r3或T4交感神经链及其侧支切断术治疗手汗症疗效确切,创伤小,疼痛较轻,且术后代偿性多汗发生率低,程度轻微,是一种安全、有效的手术方式。     

T2-4与T3-4交感神经链切断治疗手足多汗症术后代偿性出汗比较

目的:通过比较胸腔镜下T2-4与T3-4交感神经链切断治疗手足多汗症术后代偿性出汗发生情况,探讨其发生的可能机制.方法:手足多汗症患者146例,按不同手术方式分为T2-4组(行T2-4水平交感神经链切断术,共66例)与T3-4组(行T3-4水平交感神经链切断术,共80例).比较两组术后第1日、第6个月手术效果以及代偿性出汗发生部位和严重程度.结果:术后两组手汗治愈率100％,最常见代偿性出汗部位是背部和胸部.术后第1日T2-4组代偿性出汗发生率明显高于T3-4组(39％对比21％,P＜0.05),T2-4组出现2例重度代偿性出汗,T3-4组无重度者.术后6个月T2-4组代偿性出汗发生率依然明显高于T3-4组[24％ (16/66)对比11％ (9/80),P＜0.05].T2-4组仍有1例重度代偿性出汗患者.结论:降低胸交感神经链切断位置可减少代偿性出汗发生率和严重程度,T3-4切断术是一种较为理想的手术方式.代偿性出汗可能随时间有缓解趋势.     

胸腔镜下手汗症治疗方法的改进与应用

目的：探讨改进后胸腔镜下手汗症治疗方法的临床效果。方法：采用改进胸腔镜下胸交感神经切断术治疗30例手汗症患者，其中电刀切断交感神经27例，钛夹钳夹3例；单纯切断第2交感神经11例，切断或钳夹第2、3交感神经19例。结果：30例患者术后手汗均消失，腋窝汗明显减少，无气胸、出血及Horner’s综合征等严重并发症。术后随访1～9个月，2例出现较严重代偿性多汗。结论：改进的手术方法具有操作简单、安全有效、创伤小、并发症少等特点，值得临床推广。     

The role of metal allergy and local hyperhidrosis in the pathogenesis of pompholyx.

Pompholyx (Dyshidrosis) is a disease of unknown etiology presenting as symmetrical, vesicular hand and foot dermatitis. To clarify the pathogenetic role of sweat and metal allergy, twenty five patients with pompholyx were examined with respect to their perspiration volume using equipment that continuously recorded the local perspiration volume. Patients were also examined for metal allergy by patch testing and oral challenge tests. The perspiration volumes were measured using recently developed equipment for continuous recording of local perspiration volume (Kenz-Perspiro oss-100). The perspiration volume of pompholyx patients was found to be 2.5 times higher than that of age-matched normal controls. Twenty percent of the patients showed sensitivity to chromate, 16% to cobalt, and 28% to nickel on patch testing. Six patients with positive results were challenged orally in a controlled trial with 2.5 mg nickel, 1 mg cobalt, or 2.5 mg chromium. Four of them (67%) showed vesicular reactions on their hands with challenge testing. These results indicated a sensitivity to metal compounds which, in combination with local hyperhidrosis, may contribute to the development of vesicular lesions in pompholyx.     

手汗症患者胸交感神经节乙酰胆碱受体α7亚单位的表达与临床意义

目的探讨胸交感神经节乙酰胆碱受体α7亚单位（nAchRα7）的表达与手汗症（PH）的关系。方法应用免疫组织化学方法检测20例手汗症患者胸2、3、4交感神经节nAchRα7的表达情况，并与正常人进行对照研究。结果手汗症患者胸2、3、4交感神经节nAchRα7表达水平比正常人明显增高（胸2神经节相比，Х^2=19．51，P〈0.05；胸3神经节相比，Х^2=20．92，P〈0．05；胸4神经节相比，Х^2=11．19，P〈0．05），同时手汗症患者胸2、3交感神经节nAchRα7表达水平高于胸4交感神经节的表达水平（胸2较胸4神经节，Х^2=7．05，P〈0．05；胸3较胸4神经节，Х^2=6.48，P〈0.05）。结论胸交感神经节兴奋性增高可能为手汗症的发病基础之一，切断胸2或胸3交感神经节可有效治疗手汗症。     

Plasma catecholamine concentrations in essential hyperhidrosis and effects of thoracoscopic D2–D3 sympathicolysis

Essential hyperhidrosis (EH) is caused by a poorly understood overactivity of the sympathetic fibres passing through the upper dorsal sympathetic ganglia D₂ and D₃. These ganglia are also in the pathway of the sympathetic innervation of the heart and lungs. Therefore, although the predominant sympathetic neurotransmitter at the eccrine sweat glands is acetylcholine, the plasma concentration of noradrenaline (NA) (which is the main sympathetic neurotransmitter at the end organs including the heart and the lungs) may be elevated. Furthermore, as there are some indications for generalized sympathetic overactivity in EH, the plasma concentration of adrenaline (A) may also be elevated. Plasma levels of NA and A were therefore determined in 13 EH patients before and after thoracoscopic D₂–D₃ sympathicolysis (TS). Preoperative NA and A plasma levels were all within the normal limits used in our laboratory. After TS, mean NA plasma levels are significantly decreased, whereas mean A are unchanged. We conclude that sympathetic overactivity in EH is limited to the upper dorsal sympathetic ganglia and that some of the cardiovascular and pulmonary effects that are observed after TS may be associated with the decrease in NA.