Treatment response to onabotulinumtoxinA in cervical dystonia patients with anterocollis and retrocollis

Anterocollis (AC) and retrocollis (RC) are less common cervical dystonia (CD) subtypes that are often under-represented in CD clinical trials. Herein we describe real-world demographics, disease characteristics, and treatment response to onabotulinumtoxinA (onabotA) in AC or RC patients from an observational, multicenter, prospective registry, CD PROBE. After three onabotA treatments, outcomes (CDIP-58, PGIC, CGIC, CD severity, TWSTRS) in patients with predominant AC or RC were compared to torticollis (TC) and all CD subtypes combined. The mean dosages at each treatment ranged from 153.5 to 195.4 U (AC) to 184.0–213.4 U (RC). After treatment, AC and RC patients reported improvements in the CDIP-58. “Much” or “very much improved” on PGIC and CGIC was reported by AC patients (n = 11/23, 48%) and clinicians (n = 14/23, 61%); and by RC patients (n = 14/24, 58%) and clinicians (n = 19/24, 83%). The mean total TWSTRS decreased from 45.7 (n = 59) to 36.1 (n = 23, 21.0% improvement) for AC patients and from 40.1 (n = 55) to 31.6 (n = 23, 21.2% improvement) for RC patients; the proportion of AC and RC patients with severe CD decreased. Outcomes for AC and RC were generally consistent with those for TC and all subtypes combined. Dysphagia was reported in 4/59 (6.8%) of AC patients (one serious), 7/55 (12.7%) of RC patients (none serious), 29/494 (5.9%) of TC patients (none serious), and 64/1012 (6.3%) of all CD patients (two serious). No new safety signals were identified. In conclusion, treatment with onabotA may relieve CD symptoms in some patients with AC and RC, consistent with results for other CD subtypes and the known safety profile of onabotA for the treatment of CD. [Display omitted] •Demographics, treatment utilization and response to onabotulinumtoxinA in patients with anterocollis or retrocollis.•Meaningful improvement of anterocollis and retrocollis was noted in some patients after treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA.•Real-world studies can help inform anterocollis and retrocollis treatment decisions by clinicians, patients, and caregivers.