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  • Contralateral Upper Limb Weakness Following Botulinum Toxin A Injection for Poststroke Spasticity
    Publication . Camões- Barbosa, A; Mendes Ribeiro, I; Medeiros, L
    Botulinum toxin type A has been approved for spasticity management in poststroke patients. The adverse effects are generally of two types: those related to local injection; and those related to the systemic effects from spread of the toxin. Contralateral weakness after botulinum toxin A treatment is a rarely reported adverse effect. We report the case of a 33-year-old female who had been receiving regular injections of incobotulinum toxin A due to spasticity of the right limbs after a hemorrhagic stroke. A switch was made to abobotulinum toxin A with an overall conversion ratio of 1:3.83. The patient presented contralateral upper limb paresis, especially of the deltoid muscle, in the second week post-injection. The electroneuromyography showed neuromuscular block due to botulinum toxin A. She recovered completely after eight months. A switch between different formulations of botulinum toxin type A should prompt caution when carrying out unit conversions. Distant side effects may appear, including paresis in the contralateral limbs.
    2020-11Journal article Open access Show more
  • Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Ventilation Improvement Following Sacubitril-Valsartan Therapy
    Publication . Valentim Gonçalves, A; Pereira-da-Silva, T; Galrinho, A; Rio, P; Soares, RM; Feliciano, J; Ilhão Moreira, R; Silva, S; Alves, S; Capilé, E; Cruz Ferreira, R
    Background: Sacubitril/valsartan had its prognosis benefit confirmed in the PARADIGM-HF trial. However, data on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) changes with sacubitril-valsartan therapy are scarce. Objective: This study aimed to compare CPET parameters before and after sacubitril-valsartan therapy. Methods: Prospective evaluation of chronic heart failure (HF) patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% despite optimized standard of care therapy, who started sacubitril-valsartan therapy, expecting no additional HF treatment. CPET data were gathered in the week before and 6 months after sacubitril-valsartan therapy. Statistical differences with a p-value <0.05 were considered significant. Results: Out of 42 patients, 35 (83.3%) completed the 6-month follow-up, since 2 (4.8%) patients died and 5 (11.9%) discontinued treatment for adverse events. Mean age was 58.6±11.1 years. New York Heart Association class improved in 26 (74.3%) patients. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (14.4 vs. 18.3 ml/kg/min, p<0.001), VE/VCO2slope (36.7 vs. 31.1, p<0.001), and exercise duration (487.8 vs. 640.3 sec, p<0.001) also improved with sacubitril-valsartan. Benefit was maintained even with the 24/26 mg dose (13.5 vs. 19.2 ml/kg/min, p=0.018) of sacubitril-valsartan, as long as this was the highest tolerated dose. Conclusions: Sacubitril-valsartan therapy is associated with marked CPET improvement in VO2max, VE/VCO2slope, and exercise duration.
    2020-11Journal article Open access Show more