Treatment of hemifacial spasm with botulinum toxin type a: effective, long lasting and well tolerated

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 75; no. 2; pp. 87 - 91
• Main Authors: Batisti, Jean Pierre Mette, Kleinfelder, Alais Daiane Fadini, Galli, Natália Bassalobre, Moro, Adriana, Munhoz, Renato Puppi, Teive, Hélio Afonso Ghizoni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 01.02.2017; Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO)
• Subjects: Botulinum Toxins, Type A - therapeutic use; espasmo hemifacial; Female; Hemifacial Spasm - drug therapy; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuromuscular Agents - therapeutic use; NEUROSCIENCES; PSYCHIATRY; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; toxina botulínica tipo A; toxinas botulínicas; Treatment Outcome; toxina botulínica tipo A; botulinum toxins; botulinum toxin type A; hemifacial spasm; espasmo hemifacial; toxinas botulínicas
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20160191

To evaluate the long-term effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in the treatment of HFS. A retrospective analysis of patients treated at the Movement Disorders Outpatient Clinic in the Neurology Service, Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, from 2009 to 2013 was carried out. A total of 550 BTX-A injections were administered to 100 HFS patients. Mean duration of improvement following each injection session was 3.1 months, mean latency to detection of improvement was 7.1 days and mean success rate was 94.7%. Patients were evaluated at an interval of 5.8 months after each application. Adverse effects, which were mostly minor, were observed in 37% of the patients at least once during follow-up. The most frequent was ptosis (35.1%). Treatment of HFS with BTX-A was effective, sustainable and safe and had minimal, well-tolerated side effects.