title: Endoscopic intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin for the treatment of achalasia.
abstract: Three patients with achalasia were treated with endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin (BoTx). BoTx (80 U) was injected via a sclerotherapy needle into the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). One patient complained of transient heartburn that resolved after omeprazole treatment. Two patients reported sustained symptomatic improvement. They were able to eat normally 48 h after treatment and have remained symptom free for 5 and 6.5 months, respectively. In these patients, esophageal manometry 4 months after treatment showed a marked reduction of resting LES pressure and the appearance of a previously absent LES relaxation after swallowing. The third patient had only a transient clinical improvement, with occasional dysphagia beginning 3 months after treatment. All patients showed unchanged aperistalsis of the esophageal body. Its less invasive nature compared with other therapeutic alternatives may give BoTX injection a role in the treatment of some patients with achalasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rollan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carvajal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chianale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004724:Endoscopy; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins