Botulinum toxin improves sialorrhea and quality of living in bulbar amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Sialorrhea is frequently a socially disabling symptom in patients with bulbar amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this open-label prospective study, we report the effect of botulinum toxin A (Botox) injection into the parotid glands in 10 patients with bulbar ALS and socially disabling sialorrhea. We applied three different outcome measures to determine the effect of Botox therapy on sialorrhea. Botox significantly improved the degree of sialorrhea and a drooling impact score and, by inference, the quality of living, in over half of the patients with bulbar ALS and severe sialorrhea. The beneficial effect of Botox lasted for at least 2 months in those who responded. No major adverse effects were noted. Local injection of a small dose of Botox into the parotid glands can control sialorrhea and potentially improve living quality in some patients with bulbar ALS.