title: Botulinum toxin therapy: distant effects on neuromuscular transmission and autonomic nervous system.
abstract: To evaluate distant effects of botulinum toxin, single fibre electromyography on the extensor digitorum communis muscle and six tests of cardiovascular reflexes were performed in five patients injected with BoTox (Oculinum(R) 20-130 units) for craniocervical dystonia and hemifacial spasm. Patients underwent two sessions of treatment and the second time the dosage was doubled. Botulinum toxin injection induced an increase of mean jitter value above normal limits in all cases. An increase of fibre density was recorded six weeks after the treatment. Cardiovascular reflexes showed mild abnormalities in four patients. The data confirm distant effects of botulinum toxin on neuromuscular transmission and on autonomic function.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurological and Neurosurgical Sciences, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girlanda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vita
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Messina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001764:Blepharospasm / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013035:Spasm / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014103:Torticollis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins