[Treatment of focal dystonia with botulinum toxin A]

Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2001:113 Suppl 4:6-10.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Local injections with Botulinum toxin A (BtxA) are safe and effective in the treatment of focal dystonia. In cervical dystonia and blepharospasm, BtxA injections have become the treatment of choice. However, good results have also been reported with oromandibular dystonia, spasmodic dysphonia and writer's cramp. In cervical dystonia, muscles for injection are selected by clinical presentation or in complex forms with EMG guidance. Several studies have shown that 500 units Dysport are safe and effective in the treatment of cervical dystonia. In blepharospasm, injections are performed in the periorbital part of the orbicularis oculi muscle with good results for 12-14 weeks. The most frequently employed starting dose is 120 units Dysport per eye, divided in three periorbital injection sites. In case of levator inhibition, the pretarsal part of the orbicularis oculi muscle should be injected in a lower dose. EMG guidance is not necessary. By contrast, BtxA treatment of spasmodic dysphonia and writer's cramp require EMG-guided injections in order to avoid side-effects. Dose recommendations for the various types of dystonia are given in the text. In up to 5% of patients with dystonia, the development of neutralising antibodies is reported following repetitive injections with BtxA. Patients with antibodies had a shorter interval between injections, more "boosters", a higher dose per 3-month interval, and a higher total dose injected. In case of neutralizing antibodies against the A toxin, the treatment with Botulinum toxin B (Neurobloc) is a possible alternative.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Blepharospasm / drug therapy*
  • Blepharospasm / epidemiology
  • Blepharospasm / physiopathology
  • Botulinum Toxins / administration & dosage
  • Botulinum Toxins / therapeutic use
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A / administration & dosage
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A / adverse effects
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A / immunology
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A / therapeutic use*
  • Dystonic Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Dystonic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Dystonic Disorders / physiopathology
  • Electromyography
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Neuromuscular Agents / administration & dosage
  • Neuromuscular Agents / adverse effects
  • Neuromuscular Agents / immunology
  • Neuromuscular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Oculomotor Muscles
  • Safety
  • Time Factors
  • Torticollis / drug therapy*
  • Torticollis / epidemiology
  • Torticollis / physiopathology
  • Voice Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Voice Disorders / physiopathology

Substances

  • Neuromuscular Agents
  • rimabotulinumtoxinB
  • Botulinum Toxins
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A