Botulinum therapy
NewsThe bacteria Clostridium botulinum is the causative agent of the disease botulism, which leads to generalized muscle weaknessand death from respiratoryarrest if help is not provided in time. The toxin that this bacterium secretes is called botulinum toxin. It is one of the most powerful poisons in the world.
However, botulinum toxin from the beginning of the 80s of the XX century began to be used as a drug. All thanks to its ability to cause persistent muscle relaxation. 
Clostridium botulinum bacteria produce toxins of seven different serotypes (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G). Toxins of serotypes A, B, and F most often determine the development of botulism in humans, and only serotype toxins are used to create therapeutic drugsA and B. Of these, botulinum toxin type A is the most studied and widely used in medical practice.
It is fair to call botulinum toxin not a toxin, but a protein (protein), since in the process of producing the drug, all pathogenic structures that harm the human body are removed from it. As a result, only the part of it that is responsible for muscle relaxation remains.
The mechanism of action of botulinum toxin is based on stopping the transmission of impulses from the nerve to the muscle. This effect is persistent and lasts from 2 to 3 months, and sometimes up to 5-6 months. Botulinum toxin also affects the level of pain receptors, which reduces the severity of the pain syndrome.
The introduction of botulinum toxin (botulinumtherapy ) is carried out by a doctor who has been trained to use this procedure. When conducting botulinum therapy, accuracy is extremely important both in the choice of dose and in the place of administration of the drug. In order to improve the accuracy of the drug administration, methods of controlling the position of the needle in the tissues – ultrasound and electromyography-are widely used.
What are the indications?
Indications for the use of botulinum therapy are all diseases that are accompanied by a persistent increase in muscle tone (stiffness, rigidity of the muscles).
Muscles that have been in a state of spastic contraction for a long time, partially or completely lose their motor function, and in the future can be replaced by connective tissue with the development of persistent contractures. This condition occurs in patients with damage to the brain and spinal cord as a result of stroke, trauma, multiple sclerosis.
A pathological increase in muscle tone in the absence of significant changes in MRI of the brain is observed in a whole group of diseases of the extrapyramidal nervous system, such as dystonia, tics, bruxism. And botulinum therapy is the "gold standard" of treatment for this category of patients.
It is worth mentioning the aesthetic effect of the drug. The use of botulinum toxin in small doses in the area of facial wrinkles allows you to achieve their smoothing.
The muscle relaxant and analgesic effects of botulinum toxin are actively used in the treatment of pain syndromes. This allows you to significantly reduce or completely abandon the use of analgesics, long-term use of which is harmful to health and changes the nature of pain.
Botulinum therapy is also used for chronic migraine, tension headache, hemifascial spasm, myofascial pain syndromes in osteoarthritis of the spine.
Botulinum toxin is also used to reduce excessive sweating in the armpit area, on the palms and feet.
What are the contraindications?
Contraindications for the use of botulinum therapy are diseases accompanied by a decrease in muscle tone (myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome), fever, the acute phase of any disease, pregnancy and lactation.
Thus, botulinum therapy is the case when the forces of nature come to the aid of a person. When a dangerous substance becomes a unique means of getting rid of problems that previously could not be treated.
#Переведено YandexTranslate
