Examples of Clinical Use of Botulinum Toxin: A Literature Review

Abstract

Botulinum toxin (BoNT), being one of the most toxic substances known to mankind, due to its unique mechanism of action is used as an effective treatment for many diseases, including strabismus, blepharospasm, and hemifacial spasm. BoNT has received particular use as a long-acting analgesic due to its ability to inhibit the exocytosis of pain neuropeptides, including CGRP, Substance P, and modulate the expression of pain-related receptors as TRPV1, NMDA, AMPA, P2X3. Botulinum toxin injections are effective in the treatment of many pain conditions: diabetic neuropathy, chronic migraine, spinal cord injury. This article reviews the possibilities of clinical applications of botulinum toxin based on the analysis of articles in the PubMed database for specific search terms. The keywords “botulinum toxin”, “treatment”, “clinical use”, “pain reduction” were used to obtain references. The possibilities for the clinical use of botulinum toxin are growing every year. Currently, at least 8 commercially available preparations of botulinum toxin types A and B are known, the most recognizable of which are Botox, Dysport, and MyoBloc/NeuroBloc. Future research should focus on improving the safety profile and increasing the efficacy of botulinum toxin-based drugs. New types of botulinum toxin obtained through molecular reengineering will significantly increase its therapeutic efficacy.