title: Parotid gland injections of botulinum toxin a are effective in treating sialorrhea in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  : The objective of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin A in ameliorating refractory sialorrhea and improving quality of life in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Six patients with bulbar ALS received bilateral parotid gland injections of botulinum toxin A.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : No adverse effects occurred. Tissue use decreased in 5 of 7 patients at a dose of 10 units and in 3 of 4 patients at a dose of 20 units. Self-reported quality of life did not change in most.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : Parotid gland injections of botulinum toxin appear safe and may be helpful in some patients with ALS for the treatment of sialorrhea.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Neurology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA; and the daggerDepartment of Neurology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV.
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Milind J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kothari
authors.forename: Y Swami
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Venkatesh
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Simmons