Botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of the upper limb spasticity after stroke: a meta-analysis.
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.
Cardoso
Eduardo
E
Division of Neurology and Epidemiology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Rodrigues
Bernardo
B
Lucena
Rita
R
Oliveira
Irismar Reis de
IR
Pedreira
Glícia
G
Melo
Ailton
A
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
D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A