Botulinum toxin-B injection into the lacrimal gland and posterior cricoarytenoid muscle for the treatment of epiphora and abductor spasmodic dysphonia secondary to Parkinson’s disease

ABSTRACT

In ophthalmology, there have been few reports of botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) injection into the lacrimal gland to treat epiphora. In ENT, adductor and abductor (ABSD) spasmodic dysphonia are often treated with BTX-A injections into the respective overacting vocal cord muscles. We describe a 53-year old male with Parkinson’s disease who did not respond to BTX-A injections to either the lacrimal gland, for epiphora secondary to Parkinsonian-related blink lagophthalmos, or posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscles for ABSD. Subsequent BTX type-B (BTX-B) injections into the lacrimal gland remarkably improved his epiphora. BTX-B injections into the PCA muscle also greatly improved his dysphonia. We describe the first reported case of (1) BTX-B injection into the lacrimal gland for epiphora, (2) use of Botox in treating epiphora due to blink lagophthalmos/reduced blink frequency secondary to Parkinson’s disease, (3) BTX-B use in treating ABSD, and (4) association between ABSD and Parkinson’s disease.

KEYWORDS:

• Botulinum toxin
• dysphonia
• epiphora
• lacrimal gland
• neurobloc

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.