Journal List > Arch Hand Microsurg > v.24(3) > 1143605

Cho, Yoon, and Ahn: Botulinum A Toxin Injection as an Adjuvant Wintering Therapy in Patients with Raynaud's Syndrome

초록

Purpose:

Patients with secondary Raynaud's syndrome experience severe pain and even ulceration of the fingertips, par-ticularly during the winter season. The aim of this retrospective review was to evaluate whether botulinum A toxin injection before the winter season could prevent severe pain and complications in patients with secondary Raynaud's syndrome.

Methods:

Patients (n=10) were injected with botulinum A toxin (25 U) at 14 points on each hand. Sex, age, number of treatments, underlying diseases, pre- and post-injection pain intensity and frequency, satisfaction with the injection, and complications were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results:

All patients had secondary Raynaud's syndrome and were female, with mean age of 50.1 years. All patients showed an improvement in pain intensity after the injection. The frequency of pain per week improved after the injection in seven patients and remained the same in three patients. The mean satisfaction rating was 7.0 out of 10 points. Eight patients were willing to reinject; however, two patients refused reinjection due to injectional pain. Two patients had tempo-rary weakness of the hand. Seven patients showed an improvement in cyanosis. Nine patients showed an protectiv effects in fingertip ulcerations.

Conclusion:

Botulinum A toxin injection in patients with secondary Raynaud's syndrome before the winter season may provide substantial improvements in pain and ulceration, as the pain increases during the cold season. Furthermore, the protective effect of botulinum A toxin may also be helpful in preventing additional surgery.

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Fig. 1.
Botulinum A toxin (25 U) was injected in each hand at 14 points (black dots) based on the digit injection pattern.
ahm-24-210f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Questionnaire. VAS: visual analogue scale.
ahm-24-210f2.tif
Fig. 3.
The thermoscan images show a patient (left) at pre-injection and (right) at follow-up, 3 months after botulinum A toxin injection.
ahm-24-210f3.tif
Fig. 4.
(A) The graphs show the pain intensity visual analogue scale (VAS). Mean±standard deviation (SD) of pain intensity, pre- and post-injection (p<0.05). (B) The graphs show the pain frequency. Mean±SD of pain frequency, pre- and post-injection (p<0.05).
ahm-24-210f4.tif
Fig. 5.
The photographs show a patient (A) at pre-injection and (B) at follow-up, 6 months after botulinum A toxin injection.
ahm-24-210f5.tif
Table 1.
Patients demographics
Patient No. Age (yr) Sex No. of injection Underlying disease Vessel reconstruction Sympathectomy
1 44 Female 2 Systemic sclerosis Digital artery +
2 64 Female 1 Sjogren disease Ulnar artery +
3 40 Female 1 Systemic lupus erythematosus Ulnar artery +
4 48 Female 1 Systemic lupus erythematosus Ulnar artery +
5 73 Female 2 Mixed connective tissue disease Ulnar artery +
6 42 Female 1 Systemic lupus erythematosus Ulnar artery +
7 36 Female 1 Systemic sclerosis Ulnar artery +
8 41 Female 1 Systemic lupus erythematosus Radial artery +
9 59 Female 1 Systemic sclerosis Digital artery
10 64 Female 2 Systemic sclerosis Ulnar artery +
Table 2.
Post-injection evaluations
Result Score
Satisfaction (total: 10 points) 7.0±0.9
Willing to undergo reinjection 80
Temporary weakness 20
Improvement of cyanosis 70
Protective effect in fingertip ulceration 90

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation or percen-tages.

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