Botulinum Neurotoxins as a Therapeutic

Abstract

Since first recognized as the cause of food-borne botulism in the early nineteenth century, botulinum toxin was suggested as a potential treatment for involuntary spasms and movements. Multiple double-blind, placebo-controlled, and openlabel studies provided evidence that botulinum toxin is a powerful therapeutic tool in a variety of neurological and other disorders including ophthalmologic, gastrointestinal, urologic, orthopedic, dermatologic, secretory, painful, and cosmetic disorders. This chapter is a review of the basic mechanisms of botulinum toxin action at the neuromuscular junction and a discussion on some of its main clinical applications.