summary: In advanced stages of MS dysfunction of the pharyngeal muscles may sometimes appear, causing difficulty in swallowing which can be potentially life threatening. Despite a lack of clinical trials, botulinum toxin is an accepted treatment for this symptom. Not all people with pharyngeal dysfunction respond to this treatment and no tools currently exist to predict who will respond successfully. The authors studied the value of electrophysiological methods (i.e. electromyogram of pharyngeal muscles) for monitoring botulinum toxin treatment response in a group of people with neurological diseases, including MS. The results of the study showed that electrophysiological methods can be a potentially useful tool for these purposes.

authors: Alfonsi E, Merlo IM, Ponzio M, Montomoli C, Tassorelli C, Biancardi C, Lozza A, Martignoni E

source: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2009 Sep 16

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