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A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of botulinum A toxin for severe axillary hyperhidrosis
Author(s) -
Schnider,
Binder,
Harald Kittler,
Birner,
Starkel,
; Wolff,
Auff
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.02769.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hyperhidrosis , placebo , botulinum toxin , sweat , axilla , anesthesia , double blind , randomized controlled trial , saline , erythema , surgery , dermatology , alternative medicine , pathology , cancer , breast cancer
Excessive axillary hyperhidrosis is a socially embarrassing condition which severely reduces quality of life and may result in psychological disturbance. Available treatment strategies do not resolve the problem in all cases. Intracutaneous injections of botulinum A toxin have been shown to be effective in patients with local sweating disorders. We performed a randomized, double‐blind, within‐group comparison in 13 individuals (nine women and four men) with severe axillary hyperhidrosis resistant to conventional treatment, to study the effect of intracutaneous injections of botulinum toxin on sweating. A total dose of 200 mouse units of botulinum A toxin (Dysport ® ) was injected into six different sites in one axilla, whereas the other was injected with sterile saline. Objective quantification of sweat production was performed using digitized ninhydrin‐stained sheets. Three weeks after treatment, the mean difference in ninhydrin staining between botulinum‐treated and placebo‐treated axillae was −34.5% ( P < 0.001), after 8 weeks −36.9% ( P < 0.001) and after 13 weeks −28.4% ( P < 0.001). Subjective rating of sweat production was evaluated on a visual analogue scale (0, no sweating, to 100, most severe sweating). Three weeks after treatment the difference between the botulinum‐treated and placebo‐treated axillae was −56.5% ( P < 0.001), after 8 weeks −67.4% ( P < 0.001) and after 13 weeks −62.5% ( P < 0.001). No serious side‐effects were observed.