Botulinum Toxin Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis-a Review

A Prospective Observational Study of Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation in Multiple Sclerosis

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The objective was to examine the outcomes of posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) on bladder, bowel, and sexual health-related quality of life among a cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with refractory lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODS

Patients with MS and refractory LUTS were recruited for a prospective, observational study using PTNS to treat their symptoms. Patients underwent 12 weekly 30-min PTNS sessions and bladder, bowel, and sexual symptoms were evaluated at baseline, 3, 12, and 24 months with voiding diaries, visual analog scales (VAS), and validated patient-reported questionnaires, including the American Urological Association Symptom Score (AUA-SS), Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS), Michigan Incontinence Symptom Index (M-ISI), Health Status Questionnaire, Sexual Satisfaction Scale, and Bowel Control Scale.

RESULTS

A total of 23 patients were recruited: 18 started PTNS and 14 completed 3 months of PTNS. Of the 18 who started PTNS, the mean age was 52 years (SD 12), 61% were female, 83% were white, and most patients had relapsing remitting (39%) MS. Baseline (n=18) and 3-month voiding (n=11) outcomes showed no significant change in number of voids or incontinence episodes. The median VAS symptom improvement was 49 (IQR 26.5, 26) and 9 (53%) patients elected for monthly maintenance PTNS. On paired analysis, there was a significant improvement in median change in NBSS, AUA-SS, and M-ISI. There was no significant change in bowel or sexual dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective, observational study of PTNS in patients with MS with refractory LUTS shows improvement in patient-reported bladder outcomes, but not in number of voids per day or bowel or bladder function.

The Role of Botulinum Toxin Type-A in Spasticity: Research Trends from a Bibliometric Analysis

Botulinum toxin type-A (BoNT-A) has emerged as a key therapeutic agent for the management of spasticity. This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric and visual analysis of research concerning BoNT-A treatment of spasticity to elucidate current trends and future directions in this research area. A search was conducted in the Web of Science database for articles focused on the use of BoNT-A in spasticity published between 2000 and 2022. We extracted various metrics, including counts of publications and contributions from different countries, institutions, authors, and journals. Analytical methods in CiteSpace were employed for the examination of co-citations, collaborations, and the co-occurrence of keywords. Our search yielded 1489 publications. Analysis revealed a consistent annual increase in research output. The United States, United Kingdom, and Italy were the leading contributors. The top institution in this research was Assistance Publique Hopitaux, Paris. The journal containing the highest number of relevant publications was Toxins. Key frequently occurring keywords were 'stroke', 'cerebral palsy', 'adult spasticity', and 'upper extremity'. This study identified 12 clusters of keywords and 15 clusters of co-cited references, indicating the main focus areas and emerging themes in this field. This study comprehensively analyzed and summarized trends in BoNT-A research in the field of spasticity over the past 22 years.

Drooling may be Associated with Dysphagia Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis

During the process of the multiple sclerosis (MS), persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) may experience drooling (sialorrhea) issues that are frequently disregarded. The exact cause of drooling in PwMS is poorly understood. This study aims to assess potential risk factors for drooling seen in PwMS. The study included 20 PwMS with drooling and 19 PwMS without drooling. The participants' sociodemographic data and clinical parameters were noted. To evaluate dysphagia, fatigue, and hypersalivation, the Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (DYMUS), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and objective saliva flow rate measurement with cottons placed in Stensen ducts and under the tongue (swab test) were used, respectively. The study employed univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to identify the risk factors linked to drooling. Gender, age, disease duration, MS type, and Expanded Disability Status Scale scores did not differ between the two groups. There was a significant increase in the DYMUS and submandibular/sublingual (SM/SL) saliva flow rate values in PwMS with drooling (p = 0.009 and p = 0.019, respectively). However, in our study, hypersalivation was not observed in PwMS with or without drooling. In the univariate model, DYMUS, SM/SL saliva flow rate, and FSS were found to be risk factors for drooling in PwMS. But only DYMUS was shown to be a significant risk factor in the multivariate model obtained by the backward (Wald) elimination method (p = 0.023). Finally, our research is the first to demonstrate the relationship between drooling and the presence of dysphagia symptoms in PwMS. This is a very important study to determine the nature of drooling in PwMS. This finding shows that our study will serve as a reference for choosing the best method for drooling treatment.

Trends in Botulinum Toxin Use among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Population-Based Study

There are limited real-world data on the use of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Accordingly, this nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study aimed to describe BoNT-A treatment trends in patients with MS between 2014 and 2020 in France. This study extracted data from the French National Hospital Discharge Database (Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information, PMSI) covering the entire French population. Among 105,206 patients coded with MS, we identified those who received ≥1 BoNT-A injection, administered within striated muscle for MS-related spasticity and/or within the detrusor smooth muscle for neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO). A total of 8427 patients (8.0%) received BoNT-A injections for spasticity, 52.9% of whom received ≥3 BoNT-A injections with 61.9% of the repeated injections administered every 3 to 6 months. A total of 2912 patients (2.8%) received BoNT-A injections for NDO, with a mean of 4.7 injections per patient. Most repeated BoNT-A injections within the detrusor smooth muscle (60.0%) were administered every 5 to 8 months. There were 585 patients (0.6%) who received both BoNT-A injections within striated muscle and the detrusor smooth muscle. Overall, our study highlights a broad range of BoNT-A treatment practices between 2014 and 2020 in patients with MS.

Clinical efficacy of botulinum toxin type A in patients with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or multiple sclerosis: An observational longitudinal study

Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) is the treatment of choice for focal spasticity, with a concomitant effect on pain reduction and improvement of quality of life (QoL). Current evidence of its efficacy is based mainly on post stroke spasticity. This study aims to clarify the role of BoNT-A in the context of non-stroke spasticity (NSS). We enrolled 86 patients affected by multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury with clinical indication to perform BoNT-A treatment. Subjects were evaluated before injection and after 1, 3, and 6 months. At every visit, spasticity severity using the modified Ashworth scale, pain using the numeric rating scale, QoL using the Euro Qol Group EQ-5D-5L, and the perceived treatment effect using the Global Assessment of Efficacy scale were recorded. In our population BoNT-A demonstrated to have a significant effect in improving all the outcome variables, with different effect persistence over time in relation to the diagnosis and the number of treated sites. Our results support BoNT-A as a modifier of the disability condition and suggest its implementation in the treatment of NSS, delivering a possible starting point to generate diagnosis-specific follow-up programs.

Clinical trial identifier

NCT04673240.

[The use of botulinum toxin type A in symptomatic therapy and medical rehabilitation of patients with multiple sclerosis]

The review of the current state of the problem of symptomatic therapy and medical rehabilitation (MR) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is presented. The search was conducted in the databases Medline, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus. Information is given about the most common symptoms of MS, among which sensory and motor disorders, bladder dysfunction, and pain have the greatest impact on the quality of life of patients, their functioning and independence in everyday life. The clinical characteristics of spasticity syndrome in MS and its relationship with quality of life indicators are considered. The features of the use of botulinum therapy (BT) in MS are considered. A high level of effectiveness of the use of BT in the treatment of neurogenic hyperactivity of detrusor and neurogenic bladder (the level of persuasiveness of recommendation A) and spasticity (the level of persuasiveness of recommendation B) is shown. Symptomatic treatment of MS and MR with the use of multidisciplinary programs helps to reduce disability, improve the quality of life of patients. When choosing symptomatic treatment and MR methods, it is customary to focus on the needs of patients.

Goal-Setting in Multiple Sclerosis-Related Spasticity Treated with Botulinum Toxin: The GASEPTOX Study

Spasticity is one of the most disabling symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS). Botulinum toxin injection (BTI) is a first-line treatment for focal spasticity. There is a lack of evidence of a functional improvement following BTI in MS-related spasticity. To describe goal-setting for BTI in MS, and evaluate the degree of attainment, using goal attainment scaling (GAS) 4-to-6 weeks after injection session, a one-year multi-center retrospective observational study assessing goal-setting and achievement during BTI session in spastic patients with MS was set up. Following the GAS method, patients and their physicians set up to three goals and scored their achievement 4 to 6 weeks thereafter. Commonly used goals from three centers were combined into a standardized list and 125 single BTI sessions were analyzed. The most frequent goals regarded lower limb (LL) impairments (equinovarus foot, toe claw) or locomotion (stability, walking distance, clinging) and accounted for 89.1%, versus 10.9% for upper limb (UL), mostly for mild-to-moderate MS. Overall, goals were frequently achieved (85.77%) mainly when related to gait and mobility rather than hygiene and ease of care. This study gives an overview on the most frequent, relevant, and achievable goals to be set in real-life practice of BTI for spasticity management in MS.

Recent advances in understanding hereditary spastic paraplegias and emerging therapies

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of rare, inherited, neurological diseases characterized by broad clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Lower-limb spasticity with first motoneuron involvement is the core symptom of all HSPs. As spasticity is a syndrome and not a disease, it develops on top of other neurological signs (ataxia, dystonia, and parkinsonism). Indeed, the definition of genes responsible for HSPs goes beyond the 79 identified SPG genes. In order to avoid making a catalog of the different genes involved in HSP in any way, we have chosen to focus on the HSP with cerebellar ataxias since this is a frequent association described for several genes. This overlap leads to an intermediary group of spastic ataxias which is actively genetically and clinically studied. The most striking example is SPG7, which is responsible for HSP or cerebellar ataxia or both. There are no specific therapies against HSPs, and there is a dearth of randomized trials in patients with HSP, especially on spasticity when it likely results from other mechanisms. Thus far, no gene-specific therapy has been developed for HSP, but emerging therapies in animal models and neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells are potential treatments for patients.

High Dosage of Botulinum Toxin Type A in Adult Subjects with Spasticity Following Acquired Central Nervous System Damage: Where Are We at?

Spasticity is a common disabling disorder in adult subjects suffering from stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Spasticity may be a disabling symptom in people during rehabilitation and botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) has become the first-line therapy for the local form. High BTX-A doses are often used in clinical practice. Advantages and limitations are debated and the evidence is unclear. Therefore, we analysed the efficacy, safety and evidence for BTX-A high doses. Studies published from January 1989 to February 2020 were retrieved from MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register. Only obabotulinumtoxinA (obaBTX-A), onabotulinumtoxinA (onaBTX-A), and incobotulinumtoxinA (incoBTX-A) were considered. The term “high dosage” indicated ≥ 600 U. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies had variable method designs, sample sizes and aims, with only two randomised controlled trials. IncoBTX-A and onaBTX-A were injected in three and eight studies, respectively. BTX-A high doses were used predominantly in treating post-stroke spasticity. No studies were retrieved regarding treating spasticity in MS and SCI. Dosage of BTX-A up to 840 U resulted efficacious and safety without no serious adverse events (AEs). Evidence is insufficient to recommend high BTX-A use in clinical practice, but in selected patients, the benefits of high dose BTX-A may be clinically acceptable.

Botulinum toxin for the management of spasticity in multiple sclerosis: the Italian botulinum toxin network study

BACKGROUND

Botulinum toxin (BT) is an effective and safe treatment for spasticity, with limited evidence in multiple sclerosis (MS). We aim to describe the use of BT for the management of MS spasticity in the clinical practice, its combination with other anti-spastic treatments in MS and possible MS clinical correlates.

METHODS

This is a multicentre cross-sectional observational study including 386 MS patients, receiving BT for spasticity in 19 Italian centres (age 53.6 ± 10.9 years; female 228 (59.1%); disease duration 18.7 ± 9.2 years; baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 6.5 (2.0-9.0)).

RESULTS

BT was used for improving mobility (n = 170), functioning in activities of daily living (n = 56), pain (n = 56), posturing-hygiene (n = 63) and daily assistance (n = 41). BT formulations were AbobotulinumtoxinA (n = 138), OnabotulinumtoxinA (n = 133) and IncobotulinumtoxinA (n = 115). After conversion to unified dose units, higher BT dose was associated with higher EDSS (Coeff = 0.591; p < 0.001), higher modified Ashworth scale (Coeff = 0.796; p < 0.001) and non-ambulatory patients (Coeff = 209.382; p = 0.006). Lower BT dose was used in younger patients (Coeff = - 1.746; p = 0.009), with relapsing-remitting MS (Coeff = - 60.371; p = 0.012). BT dose was higher in patients with previous BT injections (Coeff = 5.167; p = 0.001), and with concomitant treatments (Coeff = 43.576; p = 0.022). Three patients (0.7%) reported on post-injection temporary asthenia/weakness (n = 2) and hypophonia (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

BT was used for spasticity and its consequences from the early stages of MS, without significant adverse effects. MS-specific goals and injection characteristics can be used to refer MS patients to BT treatment, to decide for the strategy of BT injections and to guide the design of future clinical trials and observational studies.

OnabotulinumtoxinA treatment for MS-tremor modifies fMRI tremor response in central sensory-motor integration areas

BACKGROUND

Treatment of tremor in MS is an unmet need. OnabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT-A) has shown promising results; however, little is known regarding its effects on the brain. The clinical presentation of tremor MS is shown to depend on subcortical neural damage and cortical neural plasticity. This study aimed to identify effects of onabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT-A) on brain activation in MS and upper-limb tremor using functional MRI.

METHODS

Forty-three MS participants with tremor were randomized to receive intramuscular injections of placebo (n = 22) or BoNT-A (n = 21). Tremor was quantified using the Bain score (0-10) for severity, handwriting and Archimedes drawing at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Functional MRI activation within two previously identified clusters, ipsilateral inferior parietal cortex (IPL) and premotor/supplementary motor cortex (SMC) of compensatory activity, was measured at baseline and 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Treatment with BoNT-A resulted in improved handwriting tremor at 6 weeks (p = 0.049) and 12 weeks (p = 0.014), and tremor severity -0.79 (p = 0.007) at 12 weeks. Furthermore, the patients that received BoNT-A showed a reduction in activation within the IPL (p = 0.034), but not in the SMC. The change in IPL activation correlated with the reduction in tremor severity from baseline to 12 weeks (β = 0.608; p = 0.015) in the BoNT-A group. No tremor and fMRI changes were seen in the placebo treated group.

CONCLUSION

We have shown that reduction in MS-tremor severity after intramuscular injection with BoNT-A is associated with changes in brain activity in sensorimotor integration regions.

Multiple Sclerosis: An Update for Home Healthcare Clinicians

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurologic disease and the most common cause of nontraumatic disability in young adults in the United States. It strikes adults in the prime of life and can gradually diminish physical and mental function, affect relationships, employment, financial capacity, and independence. Neurologic symptoms fluctuate in a pattern of remissions and exacerbations for the majority of those with MS. A multidisciplinary treatment approach is essential. There are a wide number of medications that can be used. Treating the disease at an early stage within the first 5 years of clinical symptom onset is optimal. Home healthcare clinicians can use assessment tools to evaluate disease progression, teach the patient and family how to live with the disorder, and monitor the patient for medication side effects.

[Treatment of a spastic increase of muscle tone in multiple sclerosis with botulinum toxin]

The article presents data of the reviews, consensus and recommendations on the use of botulinum toxin type A (BTA) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with spasticity syndrome. It presents the results of randomized clinical trials that confirm the efficacy and favorable safety profile of dysport in treatment of MS patients. The complex approach to spasticity therapy and rehabilitation in MS is discussed.