Spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients can be eased through a combination of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections and rehabilitation. However, caregiver support is required to keep patients on this treatment, according to results of a retrospective analysis.
Spasticity, a muscle control disorder characterized by tight or stiff muscles, is a major MS symptom. The condition is significantly detrimental to patients’ quality of life, affecting their general mobility and balance.
Several oral anti-spasticity drugs are available. However, “treatment of spasticity in MS is frequently challenging because of the complex clinical picture and the undesired effects associated with oral therapy, such as fatigue, dizziness, and hypotension,” the researchers wrote.
Previous studies show that BoNT-A, a toxin that blocks nerve activity in muscles, is an effective therapy for the management of MS-related spasticity.
The long-term effectiveness and persistence of BoNT-A use in patients with MS-related spasticity, however, remains poorly investigated.
The research team in Italy proposed “to investigate the long-term persistence to treatment with BoNT-A for MS-related spasticity and the determinants of BoNT-A discontinuation in daily clinical setting.”
In total, the researchers reviewed data from 185 patients, out of which 121 were considered in their final analysis.
They observed that, at the end of the follow-up period, 44% of the patients in the analysis were still being treated with BoNT-A, but 56% had discontinued treatment.
Overall, these results “confirm the beneficial effect of combining BoNT-A injections with rehabilitation and highlights the crucial role of caregivers for achieving better long-term outcomes in people with MS suffering from spasticity,” the team concluded.
The post Botulinum Toxin Treats MS Spasticity, But Support and Rehab Seen as Crucial to Long-term Use appeared first on Multiple Sclerosis News Today.