Elsevier

Ophthalmology

Volume 98, Issue 3, March 1991, Pages 357-366
Ophthalmology

Clinical Doxorubicin Chemomyectomy: An Experimental Treatment for Benign Essential Blepharospasm and Hemifacial Spasm

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0161-6420(91)32288-7Get rights and content

Abstract

Doxorubicin (DXR) was injected as a treatment for benign essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. The other eyelids were treated concurrently with botulinum toxin (BT). No DXR-treated eyelid has maintained 0 strength (commonly achieved with BT). Two patients with benign essential blepharospasm and four patients with hemifacial spasm have achieved major improvement, sustained for more than 6 months. Eyelids have been swollen and inflamed for up to 3 months. No spontaneously irreversible complication has occurred. A single injection at the maximum safe dose (1 mg in the upper lid and 1.5 mg in the lower lid) has not proven sufficient to produce cure. Treatment of each lower eyelid of a muscular male with severe blepharospasm may require cumulative doses of up to 4.0 mg, delivered in three injection events separated by at least 2 months, with each injection no greater than 1.5 mg DXR per site. At the present time, there is no assurance that a permanent cure will result.

References (16)

  • G Decorti et al.

    Characterization of histamine secretion induced by anthracyclines in rat peritoneal mast cells

    Biochem Pharmacol

    (1986)
  • AB Scott et al.

    Botulinum A toxin injection as a treatment for blepharospasm

    Arch Ophthalmol

    (1985)
  • JR Patrinely et al.

    Local side effects of botulinum toxin injections

    Adv Neurol

    (1988)
  • JM Doroshow et al.

    Ultrastructural features of Adriamycin-induced skeletal and cardiac muscle toxicity

    Am J Pathol

    (1985)
  • P Gros et al.

    Chromosome-mediated gene transfer of multidrug resistance

    Mol Cell Biol

    (1986)
  • L Baker et al.

    Experimental doxorubicin myopathy: a permanent treatment for eyelid spasms?

    Arch Ophthalmol

    (1987)
  • LK McLoon et al.

    Doxorubicin chemomyectomy: injection of monkey orbicularis oculi results in selective muscle injury

    Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci

    (1988)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

Presented in part at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Oct/Nov 1989.

Supported in part by the Donald and Louise Gabbert Neuro-ophthalmology Fund, the Benign Essential Blepharospasm Foundation, and by unrestricted grants to the Department of Ophthalmology by Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc, New York, New York, and Minnesota Lions and Lioness Clubs.

View full text