The therapeutic use of botulinum toxin

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Abstract
Since Alan Scott’s research, botulinum toxin (BoNT) has been used in several diseases or conditions characterised by muscular overactivity. BoNT acts on either neuromuscular or autonomic cholinergic junctions. Seven different serotypes are known, with antigenic specificity and different therapeutic profiles. BoNT is made up of a heavy chain, involved in binding and membrane translocation, and a light chain, involved in blocking neuroexcytosis. Each serotype shares a specific acceptor on the presynaptic membrane of a cholinergic junction. The available BoNT preparations differ in toxicity, purity and stability. Injection of the neurotoxin produces several modifications at a neuromuscular junction. Axonal sprouting, muscular fibre atrophy, and new end-plates are the most evident histological events after BoNT treatment. They appear to be reversible in untreated muscles. Diffusion can occur at first by haematogeneous or local BoNT spread. Several factors, such as dose, volume, site of injection, muscle size,...

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