title: Patient benefit from treatment with botulinum neurotoxin A for functional indications in otorhinolaryngology.
abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate patient benefit and health-related quality of life after use of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) A for various otorhinolaryngological, functional (non-cosmetic) indications. The design consisted of a survey study of a patient cohort (n = 40) treated with BoNT A for functional indications. Patients were asked to answer the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), a retrospective questionnaire well validated for measuring the effect of otorhinolaryngological interventions on the health-related quality of life. GBI scores can range from -100 (maximal adverse effect), through 0 (no effect), to 100 (maximal positive effect). A total of 29 patients (72.5%) returned a valid questionnaire. Mean total GBI scores for the particular indications were 1.2 (sialorrhea, n = 7), 22.6 (gustatory sweating, n = 8), 20.6 (palatal tremor, n = 5), 15.0 (postlaryngectomy voice disorders due to pharyngoesophageal spasm, n = 5), 38.9 (adductor spasmodic dysphonia, n = 2) and 27.8 (oromandibular dystonia, n = 2), showing a mean overall positive effect of BoNT A treatment on the health-related quality of life, respectively. A varying percentage of patients reported an increase in their health-related quality of life, indicated by positive total GBI scores: sialorrhea 28.6%, gustatory sweating 87.5%, palatal tremor 60%, postlaryngectomy voice disorders 60%, spasmodic dysphonia 100% and oromandibular dystonia 100%. Use of BoNT A can be considered an effective therapeutic option for all the indications investigated. However, the possibility of raising patients' health-related quality of life with this kind of therapy varies significantly for different indications. Further studies are needed to analyze the patients who will benefit most from a treatment with BoNT A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig Maximilian University, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany. thomas.braun@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gürkov
authors.forename: John Martin
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hempel
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berghaus
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krause
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010156:Palatal Muscles; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D013547:Sweating, Gustatory / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014202:Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A; C542869:abobotulinumtoxinA