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- Title
Botulinum Toxin Type A and EMG: A Key to the Understanding of Chronic Tension-type Headaches?
- Authors
Rollnik, Jens D.; Karst, Matthias; Fink, Matthias; Dengler, Reinhard
- Abstract
Background.—The pathogenesis of chronic tension-type headache remains unclear, and the role of muscle tension is especially controversial. Botulinum toxin type A, a potent inhibitor of muscle tone, has been used to treat chronic tension-type headache. Objective.—To determine whether clinical response to treatment of chronic tension-type headache with Botox A parallels changes in resting muscle activity recorded through serial electromyography (EMG). Methods.—We randomly assigned eight patients with chronic tension-type headache to pericranial injection of 500 MU Botox A versus placebo (isotonic saline). Results.—At 6 and 12 weeks following treatment, there were no significant differences in clinical outcome between the placebo and the Botox A groups. This occurred despite EMG evidence of a reduction in resting muscle activity in the Botox A-treated patients. Conclusion.—These results support the hypothesis that peripheral mechanisms such as increased muscle tone play, at most, a minor role in the pathophysiology of chronic tension-type headache.
- Subjects
HEADACHE; BOTULINUM toxin; ELECTROMYOGRAPHY; PATHOLOGICAL physiology; PHYSIOLOGY
- Publication
Headache: The Journal of Head & Face Pain, 2001, Vol 41, Issue 10, p985
- ISSN
0017-8748
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1526-4610.2001.01193.x