INTRATHECAL BACLOFEN - DOES TOLERANCE OCCUR

Concern over the development of tolerance in patients on continuous in trathecal baclofen therapy has arisen as this new form of treatment fo r spasticity has gained wider use. We have studied time-dose relations hips in 18 spinal cord injured patients who have undergone intrathecal baclofen infusion pump implantation since February 1988 in our facili ty. Our data show that there was a significant increase in baclofen do sage needed to control spasticity during the first 12 months post impl antation. After 12 months, however, no significant change in dosage re quirement was detected. In addition, there was no significant differen ce between completely and incompletely spinal cord injured patients wi th regard to both the initial dose and the tolerance trend.