Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Mechanistic basis for the therapeutic effectiveness of botulinum toxin A on over-active cholinergic nerves
- 3 Botulinum toxin: from menace to medicine
- 4 Botulinum toxin: primary and secondary resistance
- 5 Introduction to botulinum toxin in clinical practice
- 6 Cervical dystonia
- 7 The use of botulinum toxin in otolaryngology
- 8 Spasticity
- 9 Hyperhidrosis
- 10 Hypersalivation
- 11 Botulinum toxin type A for the prophylactic treatment of primary headache disorders
- 12 Botulinum toxin in the management of back and neck pain
- 13 Clinical uses of botulinum toxin
- 14 Bladder and bowel indications
- 15 Cosmetic uses of botulinum toxin A
- 16 Other clinical neurological uses of botulinum toxin
- Index
- Plate section
- References
4 - Botulinum toxin: primary and secondary resistance
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Mechanistic basis for the therapeutic effectiveness of botulinum toxin A on over-active cholinergic nerves
- 3 Botulinum toxin: from menace to medicine
- 4 Botulinum toxin: primary and secondary resistance
- 5 Introduction to botulinum toxin in clinical practice
- 6 Cervical dystonia
- 7 The use of botulinum toxin in otolaryngology
- 8 Spasticity
- 9 Hyperhidrosis
- 10 Hypersalivation
- 11 Botulinum toxin type A for the prophylactic treatment of primary headache disorders
- 12 Botulinum toxin in the management of back and neck pain
- 13 Clinical uses of botulinum toxin
- 14 Bladder and bowel indications
- 15 Cosmetic uses of botulinum toxin A
- 16 Other clinical neurological uses of botulinum toxin
- Index
- Plate section
- References
Summary
Introduction
Botulinum toxin (BoNT), the most potent biologic toxin, is a highly effective therapeutic tool in a variety of neurologic and other disorders. In minute doses it has the ability to block Ach release and, therefore, has been exploited to relieve disease symptoms associated with muscle hyperactivity. Intramuscular injection of BoNT produces a chemodenervertion at the neuromuscular junction that results in reversible partial paralysis. While used primarily for conditions characterized by abnormal, excessive, or inappropriate muscle contractions, BoNT is also increasingly used in the management of a variety of ophthalmologic, urologic, gastrointestinal, orthopedic, cosmetic and dermatologic disorders.
As the use of BoNT continues to increase, the antigenicity of BoNT and development of immunoresistance secondary to blocking antibodies has continued to be a pressing concern. A certain percentage of patients receiving repeated injections develop blocking antibodies (immunoresistance) against BoNT (BoNT-Abs) causing them to be completely resistant to the effects of subsequent BoNT injections. This is termed secondary resistance. Primary resistance refers to lack of response to initial BoNT treatment, which is extremely rare, and may be due to pre-existing BoNT-Abs, possibly as a result of prior immunization against botulism. The frequency of neutralizing or blocking antibodies (immunoresistance) against BoNT is not known. This lack of information is partly due to a paucity of well-designed epidemiological studies utilizing appropriate assays to determine the frequency of blocking antibodies in a prospectively followed population of BoNT-treated patients.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Clinical Uses of Botulinum Toxins , pp. 45 - 57Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007