Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39615000›Full record

SynthesisClinical rheumatology2025

A systematic review of botulinum toxin as a treatment for Raynaud's disease secondary to scleroderma.

Calver Pang, Despina Iakovou, Danny Fraser, Baptiste Leurent, Laura Awad, Benjamin Langridge, Peter Butler

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Clinical rheumatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Calver PangDepartment of Surgical Biotechnology, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, UK. calverpang@doctors.org.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9914-4706
Despina IakovouDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Danny FraserDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Baptiste LeurentDepartment of Statistical Science, University College London, London, UK.
Laura AwadDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Benjamin LangridgeDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Peter ButlerDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a vasospastic disorder that affects the small blood vessels in the extremities such as the hands, feet, fingers or toes. It is a debilitating condition that can severely impact the patient's quality of life. Botulinum toxin (BTX) has been examined as a treatment option for RP, but its effect has been inconclusive. A systematic review has been conducted to determine the current evidence of BTX as a treatment for RP secondary to scleroderma. Major clinical databases Medline, Embase (via Ovid), the Cochrane Central Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials Register and the ISRCTN registry were systematically searched from its inception to 27 November 2023 for studies describing BTX and RP. Standard mean differences of Quick-DASH scores, visual analogue scale pain (VAS-P) score and Raynaud's condition score (RCS) are reported with BTX treatment with a random-effect model. A total of 890 entries were retrieved. Of these, 19 met the inclusion criteria, and all studies were included for analysis. There was a significant effect (p = 0.03) with Quick-DASH score and VAS-P score (p < 0.00001) but a non-significant effect (p = 0.37) with RCS. BTX is a therapeutic option in the treatment of RP secondary to scleroderma; however, the evidence published so far is not sufficient to credit it as a revolutionary first line treatment. More research is needed to establish dosing, techniques and core outcome measures for BTX in RP.

Indexed as

Botulinum ToxinsBotulinum Toxins, Type ARaynaud DiseaseScleroderma, SystemicHumansQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeBotulinum ToxinsBotulinum Toxins, Type ABotulinum toxinRaynaud’s diseaseSclerodermaSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID39615000
PMCPMC11729122

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.