Treatment of Frey's syndrome (gustatory sweating) and 'crocodile tears' (gustatory epiphora) with purified botulinum toxin. 2000

R J Hofmann
Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether purified botulinum toxin might be as effective in the treatment of "crocodile tears" (gustatory epiphora) as it has been in the treatment of other hypersecretion syndromes such as Frey's syndrome (gustatory sweating). METHODS One patient with Frey's syndrome (gustatory sweating) was successfully treated with botulinum toxin. After this, two patients with chronic symptomatic crocodile tears (related to previous facial palsy) were treated with botulinum toxin injections into and around the lacrimal gland. RESULTS Both patients reported remarkable relief from symptoms and were observed to have no tearing while eating. CONCLUSIONS Purified botulinum toxin appears to be an effective treatment for crocodile tears.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007279 Injections, Subcutaneous Forceful administration under the skin of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the skin. Subcutaneous Injections,Injection, Subcutaneous,Subcutaneous Injection
D007765 Lacrimal Apparatus The tear-forming and tear-conducting system which includes the lacrimal glands, eyelid margins, conjunctival sac, and the tear drainage system. Lacrimal Gland,Nasolacrimal Apparatus,Conjunctival Sacs,Lacrimal Ducts,Lacrimal Punctum,Lateral Canthus,Medial Canthus,Apparatus, Lacrimal,Apparatus, Nasolacrimal,Canthus, Lateral,Canthus, Medial,Conjunctival Sac,Duct, Lacrimal,Gland, Lacrimal,Lacrimal Duct,Lacrimal Glands,Lacrimal Punctums,Punctum, Lacrimal,Sac, Conjunctival
D009465 Neuromuscular Agents Drugs used for their actions on skeletal muscle. Included are agents that act directly on skeletal muscle, those that alter neuromuscular transmission (NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKING AGENTS), and drugs that act centrally as skeletal muscle relaxants (MUSCLE RELAXANTS, CENTRAL). Drugs used in the treatment of movement disorders are ANTI-DYSKINESIA AGENTS. Skeletal Muscle Relaxants,Neuromuscular Effect,Neuromuscular Effects,Agents, Neuromuscular,Effect, Neuromuscular,Effects, Neuromuscular,Muscle Relaxants, Skeletal,Relaxants, Skeletal Muscle
D012008 Recurrence The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013547 Sweating, Gustatory An autonomic disorder characterized by excessive sweating of the forehead, upper lip, perioral region, or sternum subsequent to gustatory stimuli. The auriculotemporal syndrome features facial flushing or sweating limited to the distribution of the auriculotemporal nerve and may develop after trauma to the parotid gland, in association with PAROTID NEOPLASMS, or following their surgical removal. (From Ann Neurol 1997 Dec;42(6):973-5) Auriculotemporal Syndrome,Baillarger Syndrome,Frey Syndrome,Hyperhidrosis, Gustatory,Auriculotemporal Nerve Syndrome,Frey's Syndrome,Gustatory Sweating,Salivosudoriparous Syndrome,von Frey Syndrome,von Frey's Syndrome,Gustatory Hyperhidroses,Gustatory Hyperhidrosis,Hyperhidroses, Gustatory,Salivosudoriparous Syndromes,Syndrome, Auriculotemporal,Syndrome, Baillarger,Syndrome, Frey,Syndrome, Frey's,Syndrome, Salivosudoriparous,Syndrome, von Frey,Syndrome, von Frey's,Syndromes, Salivosudoriparous,von Freys Syndrome
D019274 Botulinum Toxins, Type A A serotype of botulinum toxins that has specificity for cleavage of SYNAPTOSOMAL-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN 25. Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A,Botulinum Toxin A,Botulinum Toxin Type A,Botox,Botulinum A Toxin,Botulinum Neurotoxin A,Clostridium Botulinum Toxin Type A,Clostridium botulinum A Toxin,Meditoxin,Neuronox,Oculinum,Onabotulinumtoxin A,OnabotulinumtoxinA,Vistabel,Vistabex,Neurotoxin A, Botulinum,Toxin A, Botulinum,Toxin, Botulinum A

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