title: Botulinum toxin in trigeminal neuralgia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most disabling facial pain syndromes, with a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Pharmacotherapy is the first choice for treatment but cases of drug resistance often require new strategies, among which various interventional treatments have been used. In recent years a new therapeutic strategy consisting of botulinum toxin has emerged, with promising results.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed clinical cases and case series, open-label studies and randomized clinical trials examining the use of botulinum toxin for drug-refractory trigeminal neuralgia published in the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The administration of botulinum toxin has proven to be a safe and effective therapeutic strategy in patients with drug-refractory idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia, but many questions remain unanswered as to the precise role of botulinum toxin in the treatment of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital San Pedro, Logroño, La Rioja, España. Electronic address: fcastilloa@riojasalud.es.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castillo-Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital San Pedro, Logroño, La Rioja, España.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hernando de la Bárcena
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital San Pedro, Logroño, La Rioja, España.
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Marzo-Sola
mesh_terms: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A
keywords: Botulinum toxin; Dolor neuropático; Drug-refractory; Farmacorresistente; Neuralgia del trigémino; Neuropathic pain; OnabotulinumtoxinA; Toxina botulínica; Tratamiento; Treatment; Trigeminal neuralgia