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Antibody-induced secondary treatment failure in a patient treated with botulinum toxin type A for glabellar frown lines

Authors Stengel G, Bee

Published 9 November 2011 Volume 2011:6 Pages 281—284

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S18997

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



Gabriele Stengel, Eva Kristina Bee
Hautarztpraxis Stengel and Bee, Münster, Germany

Abstract: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) preparations are widely used nonsurgical treatments for facial wrinkles. Higher doses of BTX-A are also used for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of conditions involving increased muscle tone, such as cervical dystonia. The phenomenon of antibody-induced treatment failure is well known in the therapeutic setting, but reports are also emerging following cosmetic use of BTX-A. We describe the case of a 41-year-old female nurse who developed secondary treatment failure during 6 years of BTX-A treatment for glabellar lines. After a good response to the first BTX-A injection, the intensity and duration of effect decreased after subsequent treatments. Antibody tests revealed a high titer of neutralizing anti-BTX-A antibodies. This case shows secondary treatment failure due to the production of neutralizing antibodies following administration of BTX-A formulations for cosmetic purposes and demonstrates that immunogenicity of BTX-A preparations is an important consideration, even in the cosmetic setting.

Keywords: botulinum toxin type A, neutralizing antibodies, antibody-induced treatment failure

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