Hematuria following Botox treatment for upper limb spasticity: a case report

Introduction

Spasticity is a common neurological complication following central nervous system injuries such as traumatic or acquired brain and spinal cord injury. Indications for the treatment of spasticity include pain, function limitations, contracture prevention, and positioning assistance. Non-pharmacological modalities include proper positioning of the affected body region, range of motion/stretching exercises, splinting, or casting. Pharmacological agents include baclofen, clonidine, tizanidine, dantrolene, and benzodiazepines. However, the use of medications can be limited by cognitive and sedative side effects. Thus, the use of botulinum toxin (BonT) type A and B injections has been preferred for localized spasticity.

BonT is derived from the Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin that causes botulism. It binds presynaptic peripheral cholinergic nerve endings, acting intracellularly to cleave polypeptides involved in acetylcholine and norepinephrine exocytosis.^1,2 In multiple systematic reviews and clinical trials, BonT used for various muscle tone disorders has proven to reduce spasticity, increase range of motion, improve positioning, and decrease pain.^3–6 BonT is also approved for the treatment of blepharospasm, overactive bladder, chronic migraine, axillary hyperhidrosis, and strabismus.⁷

As with any pharmacological therapies for spasticity, onabotulinumtoxin A (Botox) is also associated with adverse effects such as nausea, fatigue, bronchitis, muscular weakness, and pain.^7,8 In cases of detrusor overactivity, there have been reports of hematuria associated with BonT injections.⁹ Although this may be a result of mucosal trauma from the injection itself, studies have demonstrated a greater incidence of hematuria in BonT groups compared with placebo and also with higher drug concentrations.^10,11 However, there are few to no reports of hematuria when it is used for spasticity in the upper limb. This case documents the unusual side effect of hematuria following BonT injection for upper limb spasticity.

Case report

A 29-year-old male with a history of hemophilia A presented to an outpatient specialty clinic for right upper limb spasticity secondary to traumatic brain injury. The Institutional Review Board of University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA, USA approved collection of patient data with written consent. The patient reported dull pain localized to his right wrist radiating up to the shoulder (rated 6–8/10 on a numeric rating scale) and associated paresthesias of the second to fifth digits. The pain improved with massage, but was exacerbated with writing and long distance stick shift driving involving finger flexion with repetitive elbow and shoulder joint motions. This condition was previously treated with 140 units of BonT, resulting in limited improvement of his pain. Examination of his right upper limb revealed increased tone (rated 1 on the Modified Ashworth Scale) with shoulder internal rotation and adduction, elbow flexion, and wrist flexion. He had no atrophy of the right thenar eminence, but had decreased strength of the right finger and thumb. Sensation was intact, and Tinel’s and Phalen’s tests were negative. The previous diagnosis of pain due to right upper limb spasticity was confirmed, and was further treated with a total of 500 units of onabotulinumtoxin A (100 units for right anterior deltoid, 50 units for pectoralis, 100 units for biceps, 75 units for brachioradialis, 50 units for brachialis, 75 units for extensor carpi radialis, 25 units for extensor carpi ulnaris, and 25 units for flexor digitorum superficialis). After a month, his pain decreased to 4–5/10 on the numeric rating scale. However, a day after leaving the clinic, the patient reported developing hematuria, which lasted 4–5 days and resolved upon self-infusion of factor VIII as recommended by his hematologist. Of note, he had not had hematuria in the past and does not require regular infusions. Also, he did not report any trauma. Given his history of bladder stones, he was further evaluated in the emergency room, where the workup did not show evidence of cystoliths or urinary tract infection.

Discussion

BonT preferentially binds and penetrates peripheral cholinergic nerve endings, acting intracellularly on metalloendoprotease to cleave polypeptides involved in acetylcholine exocytosis.¹ By preventing acetylcholine release from the presynaptic membrane, BonT blocks nerve impulses involved in muscle contractions, which induces chemodenervation resulting in decreased muscle tone.¹² BonT also causes muscle fiber atrophy and reduces the potential size of motor units, leading to weakness in muscle strength. Studies have demonstrated the clinical effect of BonT in patients with upper limb spasticity from traumatic brain injury and stroke resulting in improved range of motion as well as in Modified Ashworth Scale rating and muscle tone.^13,14 Various side effects, including pain, fatigue, muscle weakness, bronchitis, and upper respiratory tract infections have been reported with BonT injection for upper limb spasticity, but little is known of BonT-associated hematuria when used for spasticity in the upper limb.

This report illustrates hematuria that resolved after self-infusion of factor VIII. As such, BonT may play a role in the intrinsic coagulation cascade, resulting in or exacerbating spontaneous hemorrhage in those with underlying hematological deficiencies. Acetylcholine is suggested to be involved in the activation of antifibrinolytic compounds.¹⁵ Another study has reported similar mechanisms, implying that acetylcholine results in increased thrombin release and prothrombin gene expression.¹⁶ Additionally, higher concentrations of the toxin are able to block norepinephrine exocytosis from other nerve endings.² A report has shown norepinephrine increases thrombin and fibrin formation via β2-adrenergic receptors.¹⁷ Another study demonstrated similar findings when norepinephrine was infused into patients with traumatic brain injury, resulting in a reduction in platelets possibly due to thrombus formation.¹⁸ As such, by blocking norepinephrine release, higher levels of BonT may indirectly prevent clot formation, resulting in spontaneous hemorrhage. Therefore, it is hypothesized that by reducing the release of acetylcholine and norepinephrine, BonT causes spontaneous hemorrhage through an anticoagulation effect.

Furthermore, our patient had a history of factor VIII deficiency, which imposes a greater risk for spontaneous bleeding. Hemophilia is an inherited X-linked disorder associated with a defect of clotting factor VIII or IX. Spontaneous hematuria is relatively common in patients with hemophilia, and theorized to be due to tubular damage caused by immune complexes.¹⁹ This, in sequence with the negative effect of BonT on coagulation, suggests that its use may convert what typically occurs as clinically insignificant microhematuria into gross hematuria by destabilizing clot formation that is used to heal the damage that occurs at baseline in patients with hemophilia.

Although it is difficult to explain systemic reactions caused by localized BonT injection, some studies have shown subclinical effects of the toxin distant from the injection site. Post-marketing surveillance reports have illustrated toxin spread in adults treated for spasticity, such as dysphagia and breathing difficulties after treatment of cervical dystonia.⁷ Likewise, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial reported an increased incidence of dry mouth in patients treated with BonT for upper limb spasticity.²⁰ Additional findings were seen in a study that demonstrated an increased average jitter value on single fiber electromyography of the extensor digitorum after patients with craniocervical dystonia and hemifacial spasms received twice the dose of BonT injections.²¹ A similar dose-related response was seen in our case as the patient was able to tolerate lower doses of the toxin without complication, but developed hematuria with increased doses. Furthermore, dose-dependent responses have been observed in clinical accounts involving generalized weakness after upper limb injection, and detrusor weakness in patients with detrusor hyperreflexia.^22,23 These studies suggest that despite localization, BonT may enter the systemic circulation, resulting in generalized effects in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion

Clinically, it is critical to consider the potential systemic effects with localized BonT injections. It can be hypothesized that BonT has a negative effect on the coagulation cascade, given the effects of acetylcholine and norepinephrine on thrombin and fibrin. Therefore, it is crucial that clinicians are aware of the bleeding risk with a dosage increase, especially in patients with pre-existing hematological disorders. Additional studies should be undertaken to further elucidate the effect of BonT in the coagulation pathway as well as to determine optimal doses and techniques that may avoid these complications.

Disclosure

Financial disclosure statements have been obtained, and no conflicts of interest have been reported by the authors or by any individuals in control of the content of this article. Portions of this study have been presented in poster form at the 2015 Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX, USA, on March 12, 2015.

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