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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Isolation and Quantification of Botulinum Neurotoxin From Complex Matrices Using the BoTest Matrix Assays
Published on: March 3, 2014
[Simultaneous botulism in two brothers addicted to cocaine]
F Aguirre-Balsalobre1, M González-Herrera, E Mengual-Verdú
1Hospital Universitario San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. faguir88@hotmail.com
Introduction:
Botulism is currently an uncommon disease in which the botulinum toxin causes a progressive muscular paralysis that can lead to the death due to a failure of respiratory muscles.
Clinical Case:
Two brothers, both addicted to cocaine, came to the casualty department because of a decrease of near visual acuity and bilateral mydriasis. Two days later, they developed eyelid ptosis, asymmetric dysfunction of the extraocular muscles and vomiting.
Discussion:
The presence of a paralysis of accommodation, with bilateral mydriasis that reacts to pilocarpine, makes it necessary to consider botulism as a possible cause.
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