Long-term botulinum toxin efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity.

To determine the long-term efficacy of botulinum toxin (BTX) treatments, we analyzed longitudinal follow-up data on 45 patients (32 women; mean age, 68.8 years) currently followed in the Baylor College of Medicine Movement Disorders Clinic, who have received BTX treatments continuously for at least 12 years (mean 15.8 +/- 1.5 years). Their mean response rating after the last injection, based one a previously described scale 0-to-4 scale (0 = no effect; 4 = marked improvement) was 3.7 +/- 0.6 and the mean total duration of response was 15.4 +/- 3.4 weeks. Although the latency and total duration of the response to treatment have not changed over time, the peak duration of response (P < 0.005) and dose per visit (P < 0.0001) have increased since the initial visit. Furthermore, global rating (P < 0.02) and peak effect (P < 0.05) have improved. In total, 20 adverse events occurred in 16 of 45 (35.6%) patients after their initial visit and 11 adverse events in 10 of 45 (22.2%) patients at their most recent injection visit. Antibody (Ab) testing was carried out in 22 patients due to nonresponsiveness; blocking Abs were confirmed by the mouse protection assay in 4 of 22 (18%) patients. Of the Ab-negative patients, 16 resumed responsiveness after dose adjustments and 2 persisted as nonrespondents. Except for 1 patient, the 4 Ab-positive and the 2 clinical nonresponders are being treated with BTX-B. This longest reported follow-up of BTX injections confirms the long-term efficacy and safety of this treatment.