Botox injections

British Neurotoxin Network 2013 meeting, Keble college, Oxford

Dr. Marie-Hélène MarionLeave a comment

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 The 3rd British Neurotoxin Network annual meeting was hold in Oxford last week; 74 Botulinum toxin injectors gathered for all over UK in the superb location of Keble college. The program covered both practical and scientific aspects of botulinum toxin and dystonia.

 I gave a pre dinner talk on facial expression of emotions, looking on how the concepts have evolved from the 19th century with Charles Bells ‘s anatomical dissection of the facial muscles, to the 21st century with the influence of facial Botox injections on our expression of emotions.The collaboration of Duchenne de Boulogne with his neurophysiology study and Charles Darwin on expression of emotions in man and animals contributes to the present understanding of the universality of expressions and the recognition of basic emotions on a face, which was confirmed by Paul Ekman, an American psychologist.The Botox has been used as a research tool in the 21-st century to understand the relation between emotion and facial expression. Repressing the expression of emotions by too much cosmetic Botox or by neurological conditions such as facial palsy could disturb in return our ability to perceive emotions.

image      Duchenne de Boulogne, 1862

 imageCharles Darwin, 1872

The following morning was dedicated on reviewing the techniques and indications of the treatment of drooling by Ms Helen Witherow, maxillo-facial surgeon in London, the treatment of jaw dystonia by myself and the comparison of 2 techniques of injection: either electromyographic guided or ultra sound guided injection by Dr Sabine Klepsch , neurophysiologist in Bristol. Ms Catharina Pearce, medical student from Cardiff presented the results of a national survey on the use of Botulinum toxin in pregnant women.

In the afternoon the lectures were focusing on new concepts in dystonia and in particular the attempt of defining a new endophenotype (heritable clinical markers) for adult onset focal dystonia by Dr Sean O’riordan from Dublin and Dr Richard Grunewald from Sheffield.

 Outside the Botulinum toxin treatment, Mr Alex Green, neurosurgeon in Oxford, explored the effect of Deep Brain Surgery on dystonia and Mr Richmond Stace physiotherapist in London, the basis for retraining of cervical dystonia.

A video session, where colleagues were presenting video of dystonic patients with unexpected outcome, was animated and the opportunity again to share our individual approach to treatment.

The meeting was also a great opportunity for the secretary Mr Bells to update the UK maps of the service using botulinum toxin for treating neurological conditions. it’s accessible to anybody who is looking for a specialist centre to be treated for dystonia in particular.

 Dr Marie-Helene Marion, chair of the British Neurotoxin Network

Few words about me… Dr Marie-Hélène Marion

Dr. Marie-Hélène MarionLeave a comment

Few words about me…

Dr Marie-Hélène Marion, specialist in Botox treatment for 25 years.

My name is Marie-Hélène Marion and I am a consultant neurologist, specialized in the use of Botulinum toxin (also called Botox) in Neurology. I started blogging 2 months ago about Botox, Dystonia and Hyperhydrosis and I enjoyed every minute of it. Of course at the beginning I had some hesitations, but quickly I realized that blogging for patients and talking to patients during a clinic, have a lot in common, except that you don’t know and you don’t see the reactions of your readers.

My training

I studied medicine at the University of Clermont-Ferrand in the heart of the beautiful volcanic region of Auvergne. Then went to Paris to study Neurology as an “ Interne des Hopitaux de Paris” in the most prestigious departments of that time and in parallel studied Neuro-pharmacology (how the drugs work in the brain)

Then I started to have itchy feet and went to London to specialize in movement disorder as a research fellow under Professor David Marsden for 2 years. His passion for Parkinson’s disease, Dystonia and the all field of involuntary movement was contagious and never left me since.

My work as a movement disorder specialist on both sides of the channel

I went back to Paris in September 1986 to work as a Chef de Clinique and pioneer in France the use of Botulinum toxin in Neurology. Then in 1998 I crossed again the channel to follow my Australian husband and worked for 12 years at St George’s hospital, in London, running Movement disorders clinics and various Botulinum toxin clinics. At St George’s I still run a clinic specialized in excessive sweating, in particular facial sweating and hands sweating, and a clinic for voice disorders and severe bent neck.

The London BTX Centre

Now my main clinical activity is at the London BTX Centre in Sloane Square that I founded 6 years ago, dedicated to the treatment of focal dystonia, (Blepharospasm, Cervical dystonia, Jaw dystonia, Writer’s cramp, Musician’s cramp), Hemifacial spasm, Facial palsy, Tremor, Bruxism and excessive sweating.

A special mention for patients with voice disorders who are seen in a joint clinic, unique in London, with an ENT-voice specialist (Ms Lucy Hicklin) and a neurologist (MH Marion).

Dr Marie-Helene Marion (neurologist) and MS Lucy Hicklin ( ENT surgeon, Voice specialist)

Academic interests

In parallel, I pursue academic projects in the movement disorders field and published this year on Parkinson’s disease and also on complex cervical dystonia with my junior colleagues at St George’s Hospital. I recently organized the British Neurotoxin Network (BNN)  which gathered all the clinicians over UK who are running Botox services for neurological conditions.

I am a regular invited speaker in international meetings on the field of movement disorders and organized workshops on the use of Botox treatment in neurology, as European expert in the field.

The diagnosis of Blepharospasm is always delayed!

Dr. Marie-Hélène MarionLeave a comment

     The diagnosis of Blepharospasm is always delayed!

Blepharospasm is a focal adult- onset dystonia, responsible of an involuntary eye closure. It can start with an increased blinking explained by dry eyes, gritty eyes or intolerance to bright lights. Gradually the patient, more often a woman around her 60’s, complains of difficulty to watch TV, to drive at night or just to walk outdoors on a cloudy day

At that stage, surprisingly the diagnosis is not easily done. Why?

1-    The GP refers this lady to the eye clinic; the diagnosis of blockage of the lacrymal ducts, or of blepharitis (with an inflamation of the eyelids) are much more common conditions and often the first to be considered.

2-    The patient does not spontaneously mention that the eyes are involuntary closing. They more often talk about their heavy eyelids, or tired eyes, or intolerance to bright light (also called photophobia)

3-    The patient has often the eyes well opened when speaking and the doctor can’t document any forceful eye spasms during the clinic.

This explains that the diagnosis of dystonia (Blepharospasm, Cervical dystonia) is usually made after 5.4 years on average after onset of symptoms and at least after seeing 3 different consultants (Canadian survey of Dr Jog ).

The patient will benefit to come to the first clinic with a relative or a friend who may describe it more accurately as an external observer. I also ask my patients to stop talking and be silent for few minutes, fixing a visual target in the room; the spasms with forceful eye closure will occur 2 to 3 minutes later. It’s worthwhile waiting as it’s a great opportunity not only to make the diagnosis but also to identify the type of Blepharospasm.

 Hope this blog will contribute to an earlier diagnosis of Blepharospasm!

 Reference: Causes of treatment delays in dystonia and hemifacial spasm: a canadian survey. Jog M et al, Can J Neurol Sci 2011: 38:704-11