Session Information
Date: Sunday, October 7, 2018
Session Title: Spasticity
Session Time: 1:45pm-3:15pm
Location: Hall 3FG
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Botulinum Toxin Type-A (BTX-A) for the treatment chronic focal post-stroke upper limb spasticity in Indian stroke patients.
Background: Post-stroke spasticity (PSS) causes impairments and disabilities that adversely affect functional recovery. BTX-A decreases muscle tone and increases range of motion by blocking neuromuscular transmission via acetylcholine release inhibition.
Methods: This prospective, observational, randomized, placebo controlled study was conducted in 40 subjects (18-70 years) with stroke and focal spasticity of upper limb at least three months before enrolment and muscle tone score of more than or equals to one on the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The study was done between Jun 2015 and Nov 2016 at outpatient clinic of Neurology Department in Downtown Hospital, Guwahati. Patients randomly received either 400 units of BTX-A injection (Botox®, Allergen, Irvine, CA, USA) or placebo. The outcomes were assessed with MAS for spasticity of the flexor muscles, Barthel Index (BI) for activities of daily living and Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for quality of life (QoL).
Results: A statistically significant improvement was observed at 3-month follow up with BTX-A for MAS (p=0.0001), BI (p=0.0085), Functional Activity Scale (FAS, p=0.0002), and Fugl Meyer Assessment Scores (FMA, p=0.0001). Apart from improvement in global function and QoL in the BTX-A group, no serious BTX-A related adverse effects were reported.
Conclusions: Results of the present study indicate that BTX-A (IM) is a safe and effective treatment of chronic focal post-stroke spasticity of wrist and elbow. It reduces spasticity and associated disability with positive impact on the QoL and global functionality score in patients who had a stroke. Since this was a pilot study, further research is encouraged to support and highlight the role of BTX-A in post-stroke spasticity.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
L. Basumatary. Evaluation of Effectiveness and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type-A (BTX-A) for Chronic Focal Post-Stroke Upper Limb Spasticity in Indian Stroke Patients [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2018; 33 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/evaluation-of-effectiveness-and-safety-of-botulinum-toxin-type-a-btx-a-for-chronic-focal-post-stroke-upper-limb-spasticity-in-indian-stroke-patients/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2018 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/evaluation-of-effectiveness-and-safety-of-botulinum-toxin-type-a-btx-a-for-chronic-focal-post-stroke-upper-limb-spasticity-in-indian-stroke-patients/