title: A cross-sectional structured survey of patients receiving botulinum toxin type A treatment for blepharospasm.
abstract: To characterize satisfaction with current standard-of-care botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) treatment for blepharospasm, we performed a cross-sectional, structured survey in subjects with blepharospasm who had received ≥2 BoNT/A cycles. Subjects were interviewed immediately before re-injection to evaluate treatment satisfaction, time course of treatment effects, preferred injection intervals, Jankovic Rating Scale (JRS), and Blepharospasm Disability Index (BSDI). Subjects' (n=114) last treatment was onabotulinumtoxinA (n=78), incobotulinumtoxinA (n=35), or abobotulinumtoxinA (n=1). The most frequent injection interval was 12weeks (46.5% subjects); 30.7% had an interval >12weeks. The main rationale for interval choice was "to maintain treatment efficacy" (44.7%). However, 36.6% reported that treatment effects usually declined within 8weeks; 69.6% within 10weeks. JRS and BSDI scores indicated re-emergence of symptoms before re-injection, with 70.2% and 73.7% of subjects reporting difficulties to drive and read, respectively. Overall, treatment satisfaction was high, but declined at the end of the cycle. Many subjects (52.3%) would prefer an injection interval of <12weeks; 30.6% of <10weeks. In conclusion, the survey results indicate that blepharospasm symptoms, such as difficulties to drive and read, re-emerge at the end of a BoNT treatment cycle and that flexible, individualized treatment intervals may improve treatment satisfaction and outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sight, 2601 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239, USA. Electronic address: JFezza@CenterForSight.net.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fezza
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Surgeons and Consultants of Ohio, 62 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43215, USA. Electronic address: jburns9377@aol.com.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Office of Research Administration, Box 104008, Durham, NC 27705, USA. Electronic address: juliewoodward1@mac.com.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.affiliation: The Parkinson's and Movement Disorder Institute, 9940 Talbert Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708, USA. Electronic address: dtruong@pmdi.org.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.affiliation: Tufts Medical Center, New England Eye Center, 260 Tremont Street, Biewend Building, 9-11th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, USA. Electronic address: thedges@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hedges
authors.affiliation: Merz North America, Inc., 6501 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615, USA. Electronic address: Amit.Verma@merz.com.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001764:Blepharospasm / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011932:Reading; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A; C542869:abobotulinumtoxinA; C545476:incobotulinumtoxinA
keywords: AbobotulinumtoxinA; Blepharospasm; Botox; Dysport; IncobotulinumtoxinA; OnabotulinumtoxinA; Xeomin