Comparison of efficacy and immunogenicity of original versus current botulinum toxin in cervical dystonia.

The authors compared 130 patients treated for cervical dystonia with original botulinum toxin (BTX) type A (Botox; Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA), 42 of whom were exposed only to the original BTX type A used before 1998 (25 ng protein/100 units), and 119 treated only with the current BTX type A (5 ng of protein/100 units). Blocking antibodies were detected in 4 of 42 (9.5%) patients treated only with original BTX type A but in none of the 119 patients treated exclusively with current BTX type A (p < 0.004). The current preparation decreased the risk of antibody formation by a factor of six. The authors conclude that the low risk of antibody formation after current BTX type A treatment is related to lower protein load.