title: Effective results with botulinum toxin in cerebral palsy.
abstract: This study evaluated the improvement in clinical measures and quality of life (QOL) among patients with cerebral palsy treated with botulinum toxin type A. Fifty-seven parents of cerebral palsy patients who used botulinum toxin during the time of the study were enrolled. The QOL questionnaires included the following: Child Caregiver Questionnaire, Pediatrics Outcomes Data Collection Instrument, and clinical evaluations. The questionnaires were administered before the first use of botulinum toxin and approximately 1 year later, a mean interval of 13.8 months. Treatment resulted in clinical improvement in tone, upper limb function, and Gross Motor Function Classification System score. Better outcomes were observed in patients younger than 6.5 years. QOL questionnaires revealed a tendency toward improvement in the comfort dimension of the Child Caregiver Questionnaire as well as in the upper extremities and physical functions, transfers and basic mobility, and global function and symptom of the Pediatrics Outcomes Data Collection Instrument. The QOL measures correlated with clinical evaluations. Patients with low cognitive ability and refractory epilepsy had the worst results. Children and adolescents have reduced spasticity and experience good results in the clinical measurements and in QOL after treatment with botulinum toxin.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Department, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. luciacoutinho@ufpr.br
authors.forename: Lúcia H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Coutinho dos Santos
authors.forename: Danielle Caldas
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Bufara Rodrigues
authors.forename: Taísa R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Simões de Assis
authors.forename: Isac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bruck
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000187:drug effects*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A