Potential implications of cosmetic BoNT-A use on future treatment options for neuromuscular disorders and pain

Abstract

Potential implications of cosmetic BoNT-A use on future treatment options for neuromuscular disorders and pain Given the rise in cosmetic procedures involving BoNT-A, cosmetic physician Dr Mary Dingley discusses the therapeutic implications of antibody-induced resistance on future treatment of various conditions, including post-stroke spacticity and pain disorders. Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) is produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium and is the most powerful neurotoxin known. But it is also a very useful medication. It is used to treat the symptoms of neuromuscular disorders such as cervical dystonia, cerebral palsy, post-stroke spasticity, and migraine and pain disorders. It is also a key part of the frequently used, minimally invasive cosmetic procedure called ‘BOTOX’. However, the increasing aesthetic use of BoNT-A raises concerns that this may render the substance therapeutically useless or ineffective.