AN OPEN-LABEL STUDY OF BOTULINUM TOXIN-A FOR TREATMENT OF TARDIVE-DYSTONIA

Tardive dystonia is a form of tardive dyskinesia for which there is li ttle satisfactory treatment. We reviewed our experience at four moveme nt disorder centers in the treatment of tardive dystonia with botulinu m toxin A (BTX-A). Thirty-four patients with relatively localized tard ive dystonia unresponsive to oral medications were treated with inject ions of BTX-A into dystonic muscles. Cervical dystonia was the most fr equent manifestation of tardive dystonia in this group of patients. Th ere was marked or moderate improvement in 29 of 34 patients. Eighteen of 24 patients with cervical dystonia showed either marked or moderate improvement. In this retrospective review, BTX-A provided useful symp tomatic treatment for localized dystonia in patients with tardive dyst onia unresponsive to other treatment. A controlled, prospective trial of BTX-A in tardive dystonia is warranted.