Intracutaneous Injections Of Botulinum Toxin Research Articles

Repeated Botulinum Toxin Type A Injections to Treat Patients With Frey Syndrome

To determine the effectiveness of repeated intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin A to treat Frey syndrome. Between January 6, 1999, and July 1, 2005, 22 patients with Frey syndrome (12 men and 10 women) received repeated intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin type A. Before each treatment, the time since the previous treatment; the size of the affected area, as determined by a starch-iodine test; and subjective quantification of symptoms, as assessed by the previously used Frey Questionnaire Card, were recorded. All patients underwent at least 3 treatments. Univariate analysis of variance showed a significant difference (P <.001) in the between-treatment interval. Univariate analysis of variance showed a significant difference in the size of the affected area in accordance with the number of treatments received (P <.001). The mean Frey Questionnaire Card score also decreased with repeated treatments. In patients with Frey syndrome, repeated treatment with intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin type A lowered subjective symptom scores, decreased the size of the affected area, and increased the duration of the effect.

Hyperhidrosis

Basically two types of sweating exist: thermoregulatory and emotional sweating. They are controlled by different centers: thermo regulatory sweating is regulated predominantly by the hypothalamus, emotional sweating predominantly by the limbic system. Enhanced sweating, called hyperhidrosis, can be generalized or focal. Primary focal hyperhidrosis is the most common type and affects the axillae, hands, feet, and face--areas principally involved in emotional sweating. Secondary hyperhidrosis develops due to dysfunction of the central or peripheral nervous system. Review based on a selective search of the literature via Medline and on the guidelines of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der wissenschaftlichen medizinischen Fachgesellschaften [AWMF]). Various conservative and surgical treatments exist for hyperhidrosis. Conservative treatment options are the local application of aluminum chloride, tap water iontophoresis, and the intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin. Surgical approaches include endoscopic sympathectomy and axillary tumescent curettage and liposuction, removing the sweat glands. Systemic drugs (e.g. anticholinergic substances) can be used in the treatment of generalized hyperhidrosis. A step-by-step approach is recommended for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. Local treatment options with few and minor side effects should be tried first.

Management of frey syndrome

Almost all patients who undergo parotidectomy will to some extent develop Frey syndrome (auriculotemporal syndrome or gustatory sweating) after surgery, because of aberrant regeneration of cut parasympathetic fibers between otic ganglion and subcutaneous vessels. However, only the minority of these patients needs treatment. The syndrome consists of gustatory sweating, flushing, and warming over the preauricular and temporal areas. Thick skin flap and partial superficial parotidectomy are the most important techniques to minimize the risk of developing symptomatic Frey syndrome. Intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin A is an effective, long-lasting, and well-tolerated treatment of Frey syndrome. If recurrence occurs, the treatment can be repeated.

Indications de la neurotoxine botulique A en neuro-ORL

Dystonia is the result of abnormal contractions of muscles, which may disturb activities between agonist and antagonist muscles. Since synchronization of laryngeal and masticatory muscles is highly necessary to allow opening and closure of the larynx or the mouth, expression of dystonia is especially exhibited. Focal laryngeal dystonia may disturb phonation, but also breathing or swallowing, which may be difficult to identify. In ORL, the botulinum toxin is used to treat focal dystonias, especially laryngeal (spamodic dysphonia being predominant) and oromandibular dystonias. Beside these indications, intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin may be helpful in Frey’s syndrome in patients with gustatory sweating; injections in the upper esophageal sphincter are also performed in cricopharyngeal dysphagia although this indication is mainly controversial.

Behandlung der fokalen Hyperhidrose der Stirn mit Botulinumtoxin

Focal hyperhidrosis often decreases quality of life of affected patients. Conventional medical therapy often is not satisfying due to lack of efficacy or severe unwanted side effects. Therefore the intracutaneous injection of Botulinumtoxin A increasingly might be of benefit for individual patients. We report a successful treatment of severe focal hyperhidrosis of the forehead with 60 MU Botulinumtoxin A (Dysport). The therapeutic effect lasted for 8 months. As a side effect we observed a reduction of wrinkles of the forehead caused by a reversible paresis of the underlying mimic muscles of the brow.

Botulinum toxin treatment for a compensatory hyperhidrosis subsequent to an upper thoracic sympathectomy

BACKGROUND : Compensatory hyperhidrosis is the commonest complication of sympathectomy, but there's no known effective treatment. METHODS : Botulinum toxin type A (a total dose of 300 MU, 1.0 MU/cm 2 ) was used successfully to treat a 68-year-old male with a 5-year history of compensatory hyperhidrosis of the anterior chest following thoracic sympathectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis. RESULTS : The hyperhidrosis resolved for 8 months without systemic side effects. CONCLUSION : Intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin is a fast, safe, effective and well-accepted approach for treatment of compensatory hyperhidrosis.

Treatment of Idiopathic Palmar Hyperhidrosis with Botulinum Toxin

Background: Botulinum toxin represents a novel therapeutic option for idiopathic palmar hyperhidrosis. However, so far there is no consensus on the way to administer botulinum toxin in this indication. Moreover, its use is limited by severe pain during the injections, especially with subepidermal injections close to ‘free nerve endings’. Objectives: To analyze the effectiveness and tolerability of intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin after nerve blocks and to review the techniques of injections and the results reported by other groups. Methods: Twenty-three adult patients with refractory palmar hyperhidrosis were treated with intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin after ulnar and median nerve blocks. Patients were followed up on a monthly basis. Results: In all patients botulinum toxin abolished sweating in the injected areas within 1 week. Anhidrosis lasted for 4–13 months. The intensity of pain was rated as absent (n = 13), mild (n = 8) or moderate (n = 2). Other side effects included hematoma (n = 2) and pain consecutive to nerve block (n = 1). Discussion: Intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin after median and ulnar nerve block represent an effective and mildly painful technique to treat palmar hyperhidrosis and may be as safe as subepidermal injections.

Hyperhidrosis treated by botulinum A exotoxin.

Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, can be emotionally challenging and socially and professionally disruptive, and there have been few effective treatments. Recently, botulinum toxin has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for hyperhidrosis of the axillae and palms and for gustatory sweating. This article reviews the current treatments and outcomes achieved with chemodenervation of the eccrine sweat glands. The antihydrotic response lasted 6-17 months for gustatory sweating, 2-8 months for axillary sweating, and 13 weeks to 12 months for palmar sweating. Intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin offer a simple, safe, and effective alternative to other conservative and surgical options.

Botulinum toxin type A for Frey's syndrome: a preliminary prospective study.

Fourteen patients with severe Frey's syndrome (occurring after conservative parotidectomy) managed with intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin type A were prospectively evaluated. Results were analyzed for effectiveness, complications, and adverse effects. Complications were not encountered. The only adverse effect noted was a temporary and slight partial paresis of the upper lip of 3 months' duration in 2 patients. Permanent paresis was not encountered. Frey's syndrome was always controlled within 2 days following the intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin A. Frey's syndrome recurrence was not encountered with a follow-up duration that varied from 3 to 9 months (mean follow-up 7 months). This preliminary report confirmed that in patients who have Frey's syndrome after conservative parotidectomy, the intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin is a valuable treatment option that should be further investigated.

Frey's syndrome: treatment with botulinum toxin.

Frey's syndrome, i.e. gustatory sweating on the cheek, is a fairly common embarrassment after parotid gland surgery. New surgical techniques have been proposed to avoid this complication, but are not widely in use. Hence, there is need for treatment of Frey's syndrome. All surgical and topical treatments have drawbacks. This study was set up in order to evaluate a recently described treatment. One hundred and two patients were interviewed after parotidectomy. Thirty-one of them had noticed gustatory sweating and 15 patients underwent Minor's starch iodine test before, and after, treatment with intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin A (Botox, Allergan Inc., USA). Thirteen of the patients did not experience any gustatory sweating at follow-up (one to 13 months). Minor's starch test showed total disappearance of gustatory sweating in 12 of the 15 treated patients. The only side effect was a discreet, transitory affection of the orbicularis oris muscle in one patient. As this treatment is minimally invasive it could be an attractive treatment for Frey's syndrome if the effect is maintained. Complaints of local hypoaesthesia and pain were also common after parotid surgery.

Botulinum toxin in the therapy of gustatory sweating

Three patients suffering from gustatory sweating following trauma to the preauricular region from a bullet wound or parotid gland surgery were treated by intracutaneous injection of botulinum toxin A. Within 2 weeks, gustatory sweating in the area injected completely ceased in all patients with no side-effects. The efficacy of treatment was confirmed by repeated Minor's iodine starch tests. So far, sweating has not recurred during a follow-up period of up to 8 months. Botulinum toxin appears to be a promising new drug for the treatment of this autonomic disorder.