Effective results with botulinum toxin in cerebral palsy

Efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA with standardized physiotherapy for the treatment of pediatric lower limb spasticity: A randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III clinical trial

BACKGROUND:

Spasticity is common in cerebral palsy and can result in pain and diminished health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA for lower limb spasticity treatment in children with cerebral palsy.

METHODS:

In this registrational phase 3, multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT01603628), children (2–< 17 years) with cerebral palsy and ankle spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale-Bohannon [MAS] score≥2) were randomized 1 : 1 : 1 to standardized physical therapy and onabotulinumtoxinA (4 or 8 U/kg), or placebo. Primary endpoint was average change from baseline at weeks 4 and 6 in MAS ankle score. Secondary endpoints included the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) and Global Attainment Scale (GAS).

RESULTS:

381 participants were randomized. MAS scores averaged at weeks 4 and 6 were significantly reduced with both onabotulinumtoxinA doses (8 U/kg: –1.06, p = 0.010; 4 U/kg: –1.01, p = 0.033) versus placebo (–0.8). Significant improvements in average dynamic component of spasticity, measured by MTS, and in function, measured by GAS, were observed at several time points with both onabotulinumtoxinA doses versus placebo. Most adverse events were mild or moderate.

CONCLUSIONS:

OnabotulinumtoxinA was well tolerated and effective in reducing lower limb spasticity and improving functional outcomes versus placebo in children.

Influence of adapted hip-hop dancing on quality of life and social participation among children/adolescents with cerebral palsy

OBJECTIVE

To describe the influence of adapted hip-hop dancing on the quality of life (QoL) and biopsychosocial profile of children/adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP).

METHODS

Pilot study including 18 children/adolescents with CP and Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I and II. Nine participants took part in an adapted hip-hop dance practice (study group; SG), and nine others served as the control group (CG). All participants were assessed with the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument and the Child Behavior Checklist at baseline and after at least three months of dance practice and a public performance (SG) or a similar period without intervention (CG).

RESULTS

Improvement in QoL was observed in the SG in the domains of transfer and basic mobility (p = 0.00*), sporting and physical function (p = 0.04*), and global function and symptoms (p = 0.01*). In the SG, there was a reduction in emotional and behavioral problems and an increase in social competence in the biopsychosocial profile. Greater participation in adapted hip-hop dancing was associated with a greater gain in the transfer and basic mobility domains (p = 0.05*) of the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument and in the activities (p = 0.05*) and social (p = 0.04*) scales of the Child Behavior Checklist.

CONCLUSIONS

Children/adolescents with CP participating in adapted hip-hop dance practice showed improvement in QoL and biopsychosocial profile scores.

Medication Repurposing in Pediatric Patients: Teaching Old Drugs New Tricks

OBJECTIVES

Gaps in pediatric therapeutics often result in off-label use and specifically, novel uses for existing medications, termed "drug repurposing." Drug Information (DI) queries to a Pediatric Medication Resource Center of a large metropolitan pediatric hospital in New York and inherent difficulties in retrieving evidence-based information prompted a review of current medication repurposing for pediatric patients. The objective included characterization of innovative off-label use of medications Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for 1 or more indications to treat a totally different disorder or indication in pediatric patients.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted to retrieve publications describing repurposed medications in pediatric patients. Excluded was FDA-approved indications used off-label in pediatric patients (e.g., different dose), preclinical data, adult use only, and experimental use. Evidence quality was classified using a modified American Academy of Neurology Level of Evidence. Results were analyzed using χ(2) at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Over 2000 references were retrieved and reviewed. A total of 101 medications repurposed for novel off-label uses for pediatric patients were identified: 38 for neonates, 74 for children, and 52 for adolescents. Neonates and infants were least likely to receive a medication for a repurposed use. Strong or intermediate evidence existed in 80.2% of cases. The evidence was weak in 19.8%. No significant relationship was observed between the pediatric age group and strength of the literature. Most repurposed uses pertained to generic or widely used medications. Less than 5% of medications were first marketed after 2011.

CONCLUSIONS

While not exhaustive, the present study represents the most comprehensive listing of novel uses exclusive to pediatric patients. Further research is needed to identify the frequency of repurposed uses. The valuable DI role of pharmacists in assessing repurposed uses is of expanding and increasing importance to ensure such uses are evidence-based.

Hand function in the play behavior of children with cerebral palsy

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of hand function on the occupational performance of playing for children with cerebral palsy.

METHODS

Twenty children with cerebral palsy took part in the study, of both genders, aged 3-10 years, with motor abilities ranging from I to V and manual abilities from II to IV. Data were collected using the Assessment of Ludic Behaviour before and after botulinum toxin was applied in the upper limbs to reduce spasticity.

RESULTS

Significant differences were found between the scores before and after the application of botulinum toxin in relation to the total Assessment of Ludic Behaviour score (p < 0.001), as well as in basic ludic interest (p = 0.003), basic ludic ability (p < 0.001), ludic attitude (p = 0.008), and communication of needs and feelings (p = 0.025), except for general level of interest (p = 0.957).

CONCLUSIONS

The reduction of spasticity permits better handling of the play materials, which promotes the children's involvement in play situations.

Effects of early spasticity treatment on children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVE

To compare motor and functional performance of two groups of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP). Only the study group (SG) received early treatment of spasticity with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BXT-A).

METHODS

Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), functional performance (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - PEDI), range of movement, gait pattern (Physician Rating Scale - PRS) and the speed of hand movements were considered.

RESULTS

The SG, composed of 11 HCP (45.64±6.3 months), was assessed in relation to the comparison group, composed of 13 HCP (45.92±6.4 months). SG showed higher scores in four of the five GMFM dimensions, which included scores that were statistically significant for dimension B, and higher scores in five of the six areas evaluated in the PEDI. Active wrist extension, the speed of hand movements and PRS score were higher in the SG.

CONCLUSION

Children who received early BXT-A treatment for spasticity showed higher scores in motor and functional performance.

Efficacy of botulinum toxin A in children with cerebral palsy in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V: a systematic review

AIM

Previous studies have shown the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) in the management of ambulant individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). There is little evidence on its use in non-ambulant children with CP. This review aimed to investigate indications and efficacy for BoNT-A use in managing pain, care, and comfort, and improving function in children with CP in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels IV and V.

METHOD

Electronic databases were searched from the earliest available date to June 2012 using a combination of subject headings and free text. Inclusion criteria consisted of studies with (1) participants aged 18 or under, (2) participants with CP in GMFCS levels IV and V, (3) participants receiving BoNT-A treatment, and (4) studies published in English-language peer-reviewed journals.

RESULTS

The search resulted in a total of 814 studies, of which 19 met the inclusion criteria. Eighteen studies provided level IV or V evidence and one level I evidence according to the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine guidelines for the development of systematic reviews. Most of the studies were of weak to moderate methodological quality.

INTERPRETATION

The evidence that BoNT-A is effective in reducing postoperative pain in children with CP in GMCFS levels IV and V is limited, with only one level I study identified. Remaining indications were general pain reduction, maintaining hip integrity, achieving functional changes, and goal attainment. A high percentage of participants in the studies showed positive changes in these areas. With the poor level of evidence of the included studies, no definite conclusion could be drawn on the indications for BoNT-A use in children with CP in GMCFS levels IV and V. Further investigation by rigorous studies is required.

Paralympic medicine

Paralympic medicine describes the health-care issues of those 4500 or so athletes who gather every 4 years to compete in 20 sports at the Summer Paralympic Games and in five sports at the Winter Paralympic Games. Paralympic athletes compete within six impairment groups: amputation or limb deficiencies, cerebral palsy, spinal cord-related disability, visual impairment, intellectual impairment, or a range of physically impairing disorders that do not fall into the other classification categories, known as les autres. The variety of impairments, many of which are severe, fluctuating, or progressive disorders (and are sometimes rare), makes maintenance of health in thousands of Paralympians while they undertake elite competition an unusual demand on health-care resources. The increased physical fitness of athletes with disabilities has important implications for cardiovascular risk reduction in a population for whom the prevalence of risk factors can be high.