Allergan’s Botox ‘can reduce spasticity following stroke’

A new study has found that the repeated use of botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA – marketed by Allergan under the trademark Botox), can offer “significant improvements” in spasticity in stroke patients.

Spasticity affects between 19 and 38 per cent of stroke patients, characterised by overactive and tight muscle activity that can be painful, leaving limbs less functional. Allergan claims the disorder can affect several aspects of everyday life, such as mobility, comfort, dressing and washing, while being very consuming for caregivers.

The study, which included 279 stroke patients with wrist, elbow or hand spasticity in the hand, wrist or elbow, six months after suffering a stroke. Before treatment, 57 per cent of patients reported that they were either “moderately, quite a bit, or extremely limited” in their mobility.

After treatment, almost half said they experienced improvements in their ability walk, while caregivers revealed that they were not required to dispense as much assistance.

Elie Elovic, director of traumatic brain injury research at the Kessler Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation in New Jersey, remarked: “In this study, treatment with BoNTA benefited patients on several fronts.”

“It significantly reduced spasticity in the wrist, fingers and elbow; and improved patients’ ability to perform activities related to work as well as daily living, such as bathing, dressing and mobility,” she added.

Botox is perhaps most famous as a cosmetic treatment that relaxes the muscles of the face, reducing the appearance of lines.

Botulinum toxin is an extremely powerful neurotoxin that can be used to cause paralysis. In medical uses, very small amounts of the protein are injected into target areas.