C. Herrmann

RATIoNAle ANd deSIGN oF A MulTICeNTRe, douBle-BlINd, pRoSpeCTIve, RANdoMIzed, euRopeAN ANd CANAdIAN STudy: evAluATING pATIeNT ouTCoMeS ANd CoSTS oF MANAGING AdulTS WITH poST-STRoke FoCAl SpASTICITy

OBJECTIVE This report describes the design of a study aiming to provide evidence for the extended use of botulinum toxin A in focal post-stroke upper and lower limb spasticity and to evaluate the impact of incorporating botulinum toxin treatment into the rehabilitation of patients with spasticity. DESIGN International, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with an open-label extension. METHODS Approximately 300 adults with a stroke occurring ≥ 3 months before screening, presenting with symptoms and signs of an upper motor neuron syndrome and focal spasticity-related functional impairment, were randomized to botulinum toxin (BOTOX®, Allergan Inc.) + standard care or placebo + standard care. Study medication was administered at baseline and again at Week 12 if required, with follow-up to 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was the number of patients who achieved their investigator-rated principal active functional goal (as measured by Goal Attainment Scaling), at 10 weeks after the second injection (Weeks 22-34) or at the 24-week visit if no second injection was administered. Secondary endpoints included changes from baseline in level of goal achievement, health-related quality of life and resource utilization. CONCLUSION Botulinum toxin A Economic Spasticity Trial (BEST) will provide information regarding clinical and cost-effectiveness of botulinum toxin + standard care vs standard care alone in patients with upper and/or lower limb post-stroke spasticity typically seen in clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT-00549783.

Functional goal achievement in post-stroke spasticity patients : The BOTOX® Economic Spasticity Trial (BEST)

OBJECTIVE Evaluate changes in active and passive function with onabotulinumtoxinA + standard of care within goal-oriented rehabilitation programmes in adults with focal post-stroke spasticity. METHODS Prospective, 24-week double-blind study with an open-label extension. Subjects were randomized to onabotulinumtoxinA + standard of care or placebo + standard of care, at baseline and at 12 weeks, if judged appropriate, with follow-up to 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was the number of patients achieving their principal active functional goal at 24 weeks (or 10 weeks after an optional second injection). Secondary endpoints included achievement of a different active or a passive goal at this timepoint. RESULTS The intent-to-treat population comprised 273 patients. The proportion of patients achieving their principal active functional goal and secondary active functional goal with onabotulinumtoxinA + standard of care was not statistically different from placebo + standard of care. Significantly more patients achieved their secondary passive goal with onabotulinumtoxinA + standard of care (60.0%) vs. placebo + standard of care (38.6%) (odds ratio, 2.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-5.14) as well as higher Goal Attainment Scaling levels for upper limb and ankle flexor subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Addition of onabotulinumtoxinA to standard of care as part of goal-oriented rehabilitation in post-stroke spasticity patients significantly increased passive goal achievement and was associated with higher levels of active function.

Botulinum-Neurotoxin in der Behandlung der Spastizität im Erwachsenenalter

Spasticity is one of the major causes of functional impairment in adults with lesions of the central nervous system. For instance, approximately 30% of post-stroke patients suffer from different degrees of spasticity with possible consecutive impairments. Numerous studies or meta-analyses showed that local injections of botulinum toxin in spastic muscles lead to dose-dependent reduction in muscle tone and improvement of passive movements (e. g. facilitated care), especially following repeated injections.However, country-specific regulations and patient-remote administration in German health care often do not allow adequate provision of this therapy. Thus, the present consensus statement based on the EBM analyses of the published international literature tries to highlight recent advances and the standard in the field of local spasticity treatment, aiming to facilitate communication between the decision makers and German reimbursement institutions in health care. Prior to initiation of BoNT-A injections, patient-oriented goals should be identified in a multiprofessional context to assure realistic goals for this specific treatment and patient expectations. In Germany for the treatment of focal spasticity following stroke three products have been approved: Botox® (Pharm Allergan, Ettlingen), Dysport® (Ipsen Pharma, Ettlingen) and Xeomin® (Merz Pharma, Frankfurt/Main). For all preparations safety has been repeatedly shown. Functional improvements have also been illustrated for selected patients concerning hand/arm function and gait. The dose per muscle and the selection of muscles to be injected have to be individualized according to the patients symptoms and should be accompanied by modern neurorehabilitative therapies such as redression or repetitive activation of the injected and antagonistic muscles.

Botulinum-Neurotoxin in der Behandlung der Spastizität im Erwachsenenalter@@@Botulinum toxin in the treatment of adult spasticity: Ein interdisziplinärer deutscher 10-Punkte-Konsensus 2010@@@An interdisciplinary german 10-point consensus 2010

Spasticity is one of the major causes of functional impairment in adults with lesions of the central nervous system. For instance, approximately 30% of post-stroke patients suffer from different degrees of spasticity with possible consecutive impairments. Numerous studies or meta-analyses showed that local injections of botulinum toxin in spastic muscles lead to dose-dependent reduction in muscle tone and improvement of passive movements (e. g. facilitated care), especially following repeated injections.However, country-specific regulations and patient-remote administration in German health care often do not allow adequate provision of this therapy. Thus, the present consensus statement based on the EBM analyses of the published international literature tries to highlight recent advances and the standard in the field of local spasticity treatment, aiming to facilitate communication between the decision makers and German reimbursement institutions in health care. Prior to initiation of BoNT-A injections, patient-oriented goals should be identified in a multiprofessional context to assure realistic goals for this specific treatment and patient expectations. In Germany for the treatment of focal spasticity following stroke three products have been approved: Botox® (Pharm Allergan, Ettlingen), Dysport® (Ipsen Pharma, Ettlingen) and Xeomin® (Merz Pharma, Frankfurt/Main). For all preparations safety has been repeatedly shown. Functional improvements have also been illustrated for selected patients concerning hand/arm function and gait. The dose per muscle and the selection of muscles to be injected have to be individualized according to the patients symptoms and should be accompanied by modern neurorehabilitative therapies such as redression or repetitive activation of the injected and antagonistic muscles.