Botulinum toxin type A for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis lower limb spasm: two case reports

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) frequently causes spasticity, impairing mobility and quality of life.
• Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) is a primary treatment for spasticity, but its efficacy in ALS patients requires further investigation, especially in China.
• Limited research exists on BTX-A's effect on muscle tone in ALS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of BTX-A in reducing lower limb spasticity in ALS patients.
• To assess functional improvements and safety of BTX-A treatment in this population.

Main Methods:

• A clinical observation and follow-up study involving two male ALS patients with lower limb spasticity.
• Ultrasound-guided BTX-A injections into targeted muscles.
• Functional scale evaluations at baseline and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-injection.

Main Results:

• BTX-A injections successfully reduced muscle tone and spasticity in the lower limbs of ALS patients.
• Patients showed improvements in functional abilities following treatment.
• No apparent adverse effects were reported during the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• Targeted BTX-A injections are an effective treatment for reducing spasticity in ALS patients.
• The treatment demonstrates a favorable safety profile.
• BTX-A offers a viable therapeutic strategy for managing spasticity in ALS.