title: Botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of the upper limb spasticity after stroke: a meta-analysis.
abstract: Muscle over-activity is one of the cardinal features of spasticity and it is a common disability of stroke patients. In this group, spasticity is responsible for several limitations that interfere in their daily activities and quality of life. To treat spasticity, neurologists usually prescribe drugs as baclofen, tizanidine or benzodiazepines or even use definitive treatment as phenol or surgery. Authors suggest the use of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) for spasticity in the upper limbs after stroke, but there are few papers with adequate methodology supporting this idea. In this article we summarize the data of previous double-blind, randomised clinical trials to asses, with a meta-analysis, if BTX-A is an adequate treatment for spasticity due to stroke. The results show a statistical superiority of BTX-A ov%r placebo on reducing muscle tone by the Modified Ashworth Scale (WMD= 0.95 [0.74 to 1.17]) in patients with post-stroke upper limb spasticity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and Epidemiology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucena
authors.forename: Irismar Reis de
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Glícia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pedreira
authors.forename: Ailton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melo
mesh_terms: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D034941:Upper Extremity
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A