The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics A Textbook of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics for Physicians and Medical Students. By Prof. Louis Goodman and Prof. Alfred Gilman. Pp. xiii + 1383. (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1941.) 50s. net.

The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics

This study followed a cohort of 103 patients at median 6 days, 6 and 16 weeks after stroke and recorded muscle tone, pain, paresis, Barthel Index and quality of life score (EQ-5D) to identify risk-factors for development of spasticity. 24.5% of stroke victims developed an increase of muscle tone within 2 weeks after stroke. Patients with spasticity had significantly higher incidences of pain and nursing home placement and lower Barthel and EQ-5D scores than patients with normal muscle tone. Early predictive factors for presence of severe spasticity [modified Ashworth scale score (MAS) ≥3] at final follow-up were moderate increase in muscle tone at baseline and/or first follow-up (MAS = 2), low Barthel Index at baseline, hemispasticity, involvement of more than two joints at first follow-up, and paresis at any assessment point. The study helps to identify patients at highest risk for permanent and severe spasticity, and advocates for early treatment in this group.

/pdf/early-development-of-spasticity-following-stroke-a-15dyiw68os.pdf

Early development of spasticity following stroke: a prospective, observational trial.

Changes in Contractile Properties of Muscles Receiving Repeat Injections of Botulinum Toxin (Botox)

Summary Background Resistance from antagonistic muscle groups might be a crucial factor reducing function in chronic hemiparesis. The resistance due to spastic co-contraction might be reduced by botulinum toxin injections. We assessed the effects of abobotulinumtoxinA injection in the upper limb muscles on muscle tone, spasticity, active movement, and function. Methods In this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, we enrolled adults (aged 18–80 years) at least 6 months after stroke or brain trauma from 34 neurology or rehabilitation clinics in Europe and the USA. Eligible participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio with a computer-generated list to receive a single injection session of abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U or 1000 U or placebo into the most hypertonic muscle group among the elbow, wrist, or finger flexors (primary target muscle group [PTMG]), and into at least two additional muscle groups from the elbow, wrist, or finger flexors or shoulder extensors. Patients and investigators were masked to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint was the change in muscle tone (Modified Ashworth Scale [MAS]) in the PTMG from baseline to 4 weeks. Secondary endpoints were Physician Global Assessment (PGA) at week 4 and change from baseline to 4 weeks in the perceived function (Disability Assessment Scale [DAS]) in the principal target of treatment, selected by the patient together with physician from four functional domains (dressing, hygiene, limb position, and pain). Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01313299. Findings 243 patients were randomly allocated to placebo (n=81), abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U (n=81), or abobotulinumtoxinA 1000 U (n=81). Mean change in MAS score from baseline at week 4 in the PTMG was −0·3 (SD 0·6) in the placebo group (n=79), −1·2 (1·0) in the abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U group (n=80; difference −0·9, 95% CI −1·2 to −0·6; p vs placebo), and −1·4 (1·1) in the abobotulinumtoxinA 1000 U group (n=79; −1·1, −1·4 to −0·8; p vs placebo). Mean PGA score at week 4 was 0·6 (SD 1·0) in the placebo group (n=78), 1·4 (1·1) in the abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U group (n=80; p=0·0003 vs placebo), and 1·8 (1·1) in the abobotulinumtoxinA 1000 U group (n=78; p vs placebo). Mean change from baseline at week 4 in DAS score for the principal target of treatment was −0·5 (0·7) in the placebo group (n=79), −0·7 (0·8) in the abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U group (n=80; p=0·2560 vs placebo), and −0·7 (0·7) in the abobotulinumtoxinA 1000 U group (n=78; p=0·0772 vs placebo). Three serious adverse events occurred in each group and none were treatment related; two resulted in death (from pulmonary oedema in the placebo group and a pre-existing unspecified cardiovascular disorder in the abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U group). Adverse events that were thought to be treatment related occurred in two (2%), six (7%), and seven (9%) patients in the placebo, abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U, and abobotulinumtoxinA 1000 U groups, respectively. The most common treatment-related adverse event was mild muscle weakness. All adverse events were mild or moderate. Interpretation AbobotulinumtoxinA at doses of 500 U or 1000 U injected into upper limb muscles provided tone reduction and clinical benefit in hemiparesis. Future research into the treatment of spastic paresis with botulinum toxin should use active movement and function as primary outcome measures. Funding Ipsen.

https://thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laneur/PIIS1474-4422(15)00216-1.pdf

Safety and efficacy of abobotulinumtoxinA for hemiparesis in adults with upper limb spasticity after stroke or traumatic brain injury: a double-blind randomised controlled trial

Spasticity is a sign of upper motor neurone lesion, which can be located in the cerebrum or the spinal cord, and be caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, brain injury, cerebral paresis, or other neurological conditions. Management is dependent on clinical assessment. Positive and negative effects of spasticity should be considered. Ashworth score and the modified Ashworth score are the most used scales for assessment of spasticity. These and other spasticity scales are based on assessment of resistance during passive movement. The main goal of management is functional improvement. A novel 100-point score to assess disability, function related to spasticity (Rekand disability and spasticity score) is proposed. Management of spasticity should be multimodal and should always include physiotherapy or exercise. Oral medications such as baclofen and tizanidine have limited efficacy and considerable side effects, but are easiest to use. Botulinum toxin combined with physiotherapy and/or orthopaedic surgery is effective treatment of localized spasticity. Treatment with intrathecal baclofen via programmable implanted pump is effective in generalized spasticity, particularly in the lower extremities. Neurosurgical and orthopaedic procedures may be considered in intractable cases.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1600-0404.2010.01378.x

Clinical assessment and management of spasticity: a review.

A group of clinicians from across Europe experienced in the use of botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of spasticity following acquired brain injury gathered to develop a consensus statement on best practice in managing adults with spasticity. This consensus table summarizes the current published data, which was collated following extensive literature searches, their assessment for level of evidence and discussion among the whole group. Published information is supplemented by expert opinion based on clinical experience from 16 European countries, involving 28 clinicians, who treat an average of approximately 200 patients annually, representing many thousand spasticity treatments with botulinum toxin per year.

/pdf/european-consensus-table-on-the-use-of-botulinum-toxin-type-49dku2vut2.pdf

Niko Tieranta

Papers

European Consensus Table On the Use of Botulinum Toxin Type a in Adult Spasticity