Original Article

Long-Term Effect of Botulinum Toxin in the Treatment of Benign Essential Blepharospasm and Hemifacial Spasm

10.4274/tjo.27879

  • Mehmet Orçun Akdemir
  • Sılay Cantürk Uğurbaş
  • Suat Hayri Uğurbaş

Received Date: 29.11.2013 Accepted Date: 24.06.2014 Turk J Ophthalmol 2015;45(1):9-13

Objectives:

In this study, we evaluated the long-term effects of botulinum toxin A (BTA) in patients diagnosed with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) and hemifacial spasm (HFS) comparing the drug dose in early and late periods and mean duration of relief.

Ma­te­ri­als and Met­hods:

The records of patients who were treated with BTA for BEB and HFS were analyzed retrospectively. The patients who had <10 injections and did not attend the follow-up examinations were excluded from the study. The first and last 5 injection doses and the mean duration of relief in 12 patients were compared between the groups.

Re­sults:

Of the 12 patients, 6 (4 females, 2 males) had treatment for BEB and 6 (5 females, 1 male) for HFS. The mean follow-up was 66.17 months for all patients, 51.83 months in the BEB group and 90.33 months in the HFS group. Average treatment dose was 40.79 U for BEB group and 29.07 U for HFS group. Mean duration of relief time was 16.1 weeks after the first 5 injections and 18.9 weeks after the last 5 injections (p=0.172). In HFS group, mean duration of relief time was 23.6 weeks after the first 5 injections and 23.0 weeks after the last 5 injections (p=0.463). In BEB group, mean duration of relief after the last 5 injections was increased by 2.7 weeks compared with the first 5 injections.

Conclusion:

BTA injection is a safe and effective method in the treatment of BEB and HFS. With similar injection doses in long-term, the mean duration of relief time after treatment was unchanged in the HFS group and was increased in the BEB group, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Keywords: Blepharospasm, botulinum toxin, hemifacial spasm

Full Text (Turkish)