Randomized double-blind study of botulinum toxin type B for sialorrhea in ALS patients

Abstract

Twenty ALS patients with sialorrhea refractory to medical therapy were enrolled in this double-blind, randomized study to receive either 2,500 U of botulinum toxin type B (BTxb) or placebo into the bilateral parotid and submandibular glands using electromyographic guidance. Patients who received BTxb reported a global impression of improvement of 82% at 2 weeks compared to 38% of those who received placebo (P < 0.05). This significant effect was sustained at 4 weeks. At 12 weeks, 50% of patients who received BTxb continued to report improvement compared to 14% of those who received placebo. There were no significant adverse events, including dysphagia, in the BTxb group, and there was no significant increase in the rate of decline of vital capacity.