PURPOSE: To analyze the effectiveness of the treatment with Botox® and to study the behavior of these patients after successive applications, giving attention to the possible effect of tolerance after the persistent use of this medication. METHODS: A prospective study of 16 patient with facial dystonia, was performed in the Ophthalmic Plastic Department, of the "Hospital das Clínicas" of São Paulo University, from April l 998 to March 1999. All patients were submitted to ophthalmic examination, neurological examination and computerized tomography scan. The patients with important symptoms of spasm were treated with botulinum A toxin (Botox®). Ten patients were female. The mean age was 64.75 years. RESULTS: Hemifacial spasm (8 patients) was the most common form of facial dystonia. Success rate was 87.5%, the mean duration of the effect after the treatment was between 30 and 90 days. CONCLUSION: Treatment of facial spasm with botulinum A toxin was effective in 87.5% of our patients.
Botulism toxin type A; Blepharospasm; Dystonia; Facial muscles
