Objective: It is unknown whether interactions between HIV infection and the safety of botulinum toxin A (BTX) exist.
Methods: We studied eight patients with HIV infection who were treated with BTX every three months for up to nine years. All patients were on antiretroviral treatment. The efficacy and safety of BTX were evaluated.
Results: Indications for BTX treatment (including off-label use), dosage of BTX, and frequency of application did not differ as compared to non-HIV infected patients. BTX treatment was effective in all HIV infected patients during a long-term observation period without loss of efficacy and without clinically relevant side effects. Only one of the eight patients showed mild side effects due to BTX, and no clinical signs of antibody development were noted. We also observed no signs of interaction with antiretroviral treatment. CD4+ cell count and viral load remained stable during the observation period.
Conclusions: We conclude that BTX treatment is safe and effective in the treatment of HIV infected patients who suffer also from a condition which can be treated by BTX. It is a therapeutic option in addition to oral medication for HIV infected patients.
Keywords: HIV infection; botulinum toxin; dystonia; spasticity.