Abstract
Background
Axillary hyperhidrosis is a common complaint affecting 5% of the general population. It can significantly impact quality of life (QOL) and may be extremely debilitating. Administration of intra-dermal botulinum toxin type-A (Botox) has been proven to be effective in managing axillary hyperhidrosis; however, to date, no long-term data has assessed its efficacy.
Aim
We aim to assess long-term (> 5 years) QOL outcomes in this patient cohort.
Methods
In this single-centre series, all patients attending for axillary botox, with five or more years of follow-up, were prospectively included. QOL was assessed in all patients using the validated assessment tool, the modified Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Standard statistical methods were utilised with data reported as mean (± standard deviation). Subgroup analysis utilising previously published departmental data allowed for further assessment of change in QOL over time.
Results
A total of 75 patients (83% female) met the inclusion criteria with 67% completing the DLQI assessment. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 10 years with a mean age of 37.6 years (± 8.82). The mean number of treatments over the study period was 12 (± 3.1). Mean overall post-treatment DLQI score was 1.6 (± 2.01). This represented a significant improvement in patient QOL (p = < 0.0001) associated with long-term botox application. This statistical significance was identified consistently across all components of the DLQI tool.
Conclusion
These data suggest that the established early QOL benefits associated with intra-dermal botox administration for AH are sustained in the long term. This benefit was seen across all subsets of the DLQI tool.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sammons J, Khachemoune A (2017) Axillary hyperhidrosis: a focused review. J Dermatolog Treat:582–590. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2017.1309347
Rosen R, Stewart T (2018) Results of a 10-year follow-up study of botulinum toxin A therapy for primary axillary hyperhidrosis in Australia. Intern Med J 48:343–347. https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.13727
Schick CH (2016) Pathophysiology of hyperhidrosis. Thorac Surg Clin NA 26(4):389–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thorsurg.2016.06.002
S. Scamoni, L. Valdatta, C. Frigo, et al. (2012) Treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis with botulinum toxin type A : our experience in 50 patients from 2007 to 2010. Int. Sch. Res. Netw., vol. 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/702714
Campanati A, Penna L, Guzzo T et al (2003) Quality-of-life assessment in patients with hyperhidrosis before and after treatment with botulinum toxin : results of an open-label study. Clin Ther 25:298–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0149-2918(03)90041-5
Naumann M, Hamm H, Lowe NJ (2002) Effect of botulinum toxin type A on quality of life measures in patients with excessive axillary sweating : a randomized controlled trial. Br J Dermatol 147:1218–1226. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2002.05059.x
J. P. Gibbons, E. Nugent, N. O’Donohoe et al. (2016) Experience with botulinum toxin therapy for axillary hyperhidrosis and comparison to modelled data for endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy a quality of life and cost effectiveness analysis. Surg., pp. 2–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surge.2015.05.002
Glaser DA, Pariser DM, Hebert AA, Landells I, Somogyi C, Weng E, Brin MF, Beddingfield F (2015) A Prospective, nonrandomized , open-label study of the efficacy and safety of OnabotulinumtoxinA in adolescents with primary axillary hyperhidrosis. Pediatr Dermatol 32(5):609–617. https://doi.org/10.1111/pde.12620 A Prospective, Nonrandomized, Open-Label Study of the Efficacy and Safety of OnabotulinumtoxinA in Adolescents with Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis
M. Naumann and N.J. Lowe (2001) Botulinum toxin type A in treatment of bilateral primary axillary hyperhidrosis: randomised, parallel group, double blind, placebo controlled trial. Br Med J, vol. 323, no. September, pp. 1–4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.323.7313.596
Heckmann M, Ceballos-Baumann AO, Plewig G et al (2001) Botulinum toxin a for axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). N Engl J Med 344(7):488–493. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM200102153440704
Doft MA, Kasten JL, Ascherman JA (2011) Treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis with botulinum toxin : a single surgeon’s experience with 53 consecutive patients. Aesthet Plast Surg (35):1079–1086. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-011-9738-4
Lewis V, Finlay AY (2004) 10 years experience of the Dermatology Life Quality Index ( DLQI ). J Investig Dermatology Symp Proc 9(2):169–180. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1087-0024.2004.09113.x
Swartling C, Naver H, Lindberg M (2001) Botulinum A toxin improves life quality in severe primary focal hyperhidrosis. Eur J Neurol 8(3):247–252. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-1331.2001.00207.x
Lecouflet M, Leux C, Fenot M, Célerier P, Maillard H (2013) Duration of efficacy increases with the repetition of botulinum toxin A injections in primary axillary hyperhidrosis: a study in 83 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol 69(6):960–964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2013.08.002
Brehmer F, Lockmann A, Gronemeyer L-L et al (2015) Repetitive injections of botulinum toxin A continuously increase the duration of efficacy in primary axillary hyperhidrosis: a retrospective analysis in 101 patients. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 13(8):799–805. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddg.12623
Strutton DR, Kowalski JW, Glaser DA, Stang PE (2004) US prevalence of hyperhidrosis and impact on individuals with axillary hyperhidrosis: results from a national survey. J Am Acad Dermatol 51(2):241–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2003.12.040
O’Brien R, Hunt K, Hart G (2005) ‘It ’ s caveman stuff, but that is to a certain extent how guys still operate ’: men’s accounts of masculinity and help seeking. Soc Sci Med 61:503–516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.12.008
Dressler D, Adib Saberi F (2013) Towards a dose optimisation of botulinum toxin therapy for axillary hyperhidrosis : comparison of different Botox doses. J Neural Transm 120(11):1–3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-013-1021-1
J. M. O. Riordan, E. Fitzgerald, C. Gowing et al. (2006) Topical local anaesthetic (tetracaine) reduces pain from botulinum toxin injections for axillary hyperhidrosis. Br. J. Surg., pp. 713–714. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.5347
Schnider AE, Moraru E, Kittler H et al (2001) Treatment of focal hyperhidrosis with botulinum toxin type A : long-term follow-up in 61 patients. Br J Dermatol 145:289–293. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2001.04349.x
Licht PB, Pilegaard HK (2004) Severity of compensatatory sweating after thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Ann Thorac Surg (78):437–431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2004.02.087
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Lynch OE: Data collection, manuscript writing
Aherne T: Manuscript writing/editing
Gibbons J: Data collection, editing
Boland MR: Data analysis, editing
Ryan ÉJ: Data analysis, editing
Boyle E: Editing, concept
Egan B: Editing, concept
Tierney S: Protocol/project development, manuscript writing/editing
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval was sought and obtained from the local Research Ethics Committee.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lynch, O.E., Aherne, T., Gibbons, J. et al. Five-year follow-up of patients treated with intra-dermal botulinum toxin for axillary hyperhidrosis. Ir J Med Sci 189, 1023–1026 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-019-02131-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-019-02131-3