Botox seeps into other tissue, says U of C study

Wrinkle fighter less predictable in laboratory tests

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Botox is somewhat of a wildcard in the body.

According to new research from the University of Calgary, Botox -- the trade name for botulinum type-A toxin -- is less controllable than previously thought because it spreads into neighbouring muscles and tissues.

In the summer of 2007, U of C professor Walter Herzog and his team injected Botox into about 60 animals, most of which were rabbits.

"We wanted to weaken a very specific target muscle and then realized that muscles in the neighbourhood seemed to be affected, as well. The Botox went into other tissues and affected the mechanical properties of other muscles," said Herzog.

"The message here really is that you have to be very careful because the drug is not so specific. It can go into other tissues and it is a toxin."

Botox is best known as the wrinkle-fighting cosmetic product, but it is frequently used for non-cosmetic purposes, such as to relax spastic muscles in children with cerebral palsy.

The U of C's findings, which will be published in the Journal of Biomechanics, come on the heels of renewed concern surrounding Botox use.

Following a series of reactions potentially linked to Botox -- which include death and respiratory failure -- both Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have recently launched reviews to examine the possibility of toxin spread.

According to Paul Duchesne, spokesman with Health Canada, there is nothing new to report and the review is ongoing.

"There are no confirmed cases of distant toxin spread related to Botox or Botox Cosmetic in Canada," Duchesne said.

As for what toxin spread means for cosmetic use, Herzog hesitated to comment.

He said that while surrounding muscles and tissues are certainly affected, researchers are still unsure what potential dangers the spread may produce.

However, when it comes to personal opinion, Herzog is clear. "Botox is a poison. I would be completely against (putting) any poison in my body purely for cosmetic purposes," he said.

The story is different for functional purposes, though.

Herzog pointed out that Botox can be very effective at prolonging a higher quality of life in kids with cerebral palsy, by allowing them to walk for a few more years than would otherwise be possible.

"That makes a lot of sense," he said.

"In cerebral palsy, (Botox) has some very good effects. The side-effects are probably minor and the fact that it goes into other tissues and muscles is of little concern because the dosages are relatively limited. But if you use it repetitively and on an ongoing basis, then it is something that might accumulate and be harmful."

Herzog said his results should not sound any "alarm bells."

Rather, they should serve as a warning to doctors to be vigilant when targeting a muscle and to stick to the dosage that's required for therapeutic effect to minimize the toxin spread.

Herzog would like to see further research to determine just how dangerous Botox spread may be.

"What we don't know . . . is how far does it spread and how fast does it go and what tissues might be most susceptible," he said.

"Those questions aren't resolved yet."

Source - The Calgary Herald

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