Objective:

To evaluate botulinum toxin A therapy in patients with hemifacial spasm attended in a Neurology Service in Cuba.

Patients and methods:

35 patients with hemifacial spasm were treated with botulinum toxin A during 15 months. Some parameters of botulinum toxin were collected including doses, latency, maximum duration and total duration of improvement. Clinical data were determined, such as functional status, gravity, frequency and adverse events.

Results:

There was a high percentage of female with hemifacial spasm. Most patients showed a latency of 48 hs, maximum duration until 60 days and total duration of improvement of 3 months. Functional status decreased through time, independently of hemifacial spasm onset and its origin. Parameters related to functional status, as gravity and frequency also diminished significantly their categories. Botulinum toxin doses were statistically increased over this treatment, independently of any patient conditions. Only eight patients showed adverse events (facial muscle weakness and ptosis).

Conclusions:

Recovery of functional status, and low rate of adverse events observed during botulinum toxin treatment might suggest that this therapy seems to be effective and low-risk under our conditions.