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Pharmacology of hemifacial spasm

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Hemifacial Spasm

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Summary

For many years carbamazepine and baclofen have been the only pharmacological treatments for hemifacial spasm (HFS), but their efficacy is low and they have noticeable side-effects.

Local injections of botulinum toxin (Bo-Tx) is now the reference treatment for HFS. This toxin binds selectively to cholinergic presynaptic endings of the peripheral nervous system (motor endplates and postganglionic parasympathetic fibers), translocates into presynaptic cytosol, and inhibits vesicular release of acetylcholine, resulting in muscular paralysis. Bo-Tx is very effective in treating HFS but is not truly appropriated to its pathophysiology. In addition, it may have adverse side-effects due to spreading beyond its target, and it may induce plastic changes in the peripheral nervous system.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Association pour la Neuro Psycho, Pharmacologie (A.N.P.P.), 25 rue de la Plaine, F-75020, Paris, France

    Héléne Ollat M.D.

Authors
  1. Héléne Ollat M.D.
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hôpital Neurologique, Lyon, France

    Marc Sindou

  2. Hôpital Henri Mondor, Creteil, France

    Yves Keravel

  3. Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA

    Aage R. Møller

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© 1997 Springer-Verlag/Wien

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Ollat, H. (1997). Pharmacology of hemifacial spasm. In: Sindou, M., Keravel, Y., Møller, A.R. (eds) Hemifacial Spasm. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6829-5_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6829-5_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-7091-7416-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-6829-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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