[Botulinum toxin in infantile cerebral palsy]. / Toxina botulínica en la parálisis cerebral infantil.

INTRODUCTION: A number of studies have proved the effectiveness and safety of botulinum toxin in therapeutic doses. AIM: To analyse the results obtained over a 12-year period in which botulinum toxin type A (BTA) was used to treat infantile cerebral palsy (CP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of a total number of 547 patients who were treated, 515 had CP, 464 with spasticity, 46 with mixed CP and 5 with dyskinetic CP with focal dystonia. RESULTS: Overall evaluation of BTA is positive, both as regards its beneficial effects and its safety: tone was mildly improved in 18.5% of patients, with no change in motor functioning, 39% showed a moderate improvement, 19% a marked improvement and 5.6% experienced a marked and prolonged improvement. Forty-two patients (8.15%) presented side effects, the most common being weakness in the lower limbs, which occurred in 21 cases. CONCLUSIONS: BTA is a good therapeutic option for treating children with CP, not only for the focal involvement but also as palliative treatment in children with diffuse involvement.

Toxina botulínica en la parálisis cerebral infantil / Botulinum toxin in infantile cerebral palsy

Introducción. Numerosos estudios han demostrado la eficacia y la seguridad de la toxina botulínica en dosis terapéuticas.Objetivo. Analizar los resultados obtenidos durante 12 años de utilización de la toxina botulínica de tipo A (TBA) para el tratamiento de la parálisis cerebral (PC) infantil. Pacientes y métodos. De 547 pacientes tratados, 515 presentaban PC, 464 con espasticidad, 46 con PC mixta y 5 con PC discinética con distonía focal. Resultados. La valoración global de la TBA es positiva, tanto por sus efectos beneficiosos como por su seguridad: el 18,5% de los pacientes presentó una mejoría leve en el tono, sin cambio en la función motriz, el 39% presentó una mejoría moderada, el 19% una mejoría marcada y el 5,6% una mejoría marcada y prolongada. Cuarenta y dos pacientes (8,15%) presentaron efectos secundarios, de los cuales la debilidadde las extremidades inferiores fue el más frecuente, presente en 21casos. Conclusiones. La TBA constituye una buena opción terapéutica para el tratamiento de niños con PC, no sólo para la afectación focal, sino también como tratamiento paliativo en niños con afectación difusa

Introduction. A number of studies have proved the effectiveness and safety of botulinum toxin in therapeutic doses.Aim. To analyse the results obtained over a 12-year period in which botulinum toxin type A (BTA) was used to treat infantile cerebral palsy (CP). Patients and methods. Of a total number of 547 patients who were treated, 515 had CP, 464 with spasticity,46 with mixed CP and 5 with dyskinetic CP with focal dystonia. Results. Overall evaluation of BTA is positive, both as regards its beneficial effects and its safety: tone was mildly improved in 18.5% of patients, with no change in motor functioning, 39% showed a moderate improvement, 19% a marked improvement and 5.6% experienced a marked and prolonged improvement. Forty-two patients (8.15%) presented side effects, the most common being weakness in the lower limbs, which occurred in 21 cases. Conclusions. BTA is a good therapeutic option for treating children with CP, not only for the focal involvement but also as palliative treatment in children with diffuse involvementu