Efficacy and Safety of AbobotulinumtoxinA for Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Glabellar Lines: A Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of abobotulinumtoxinA (ABO) and ABO solution for injection (ASI) for treating moderate-to-severe glabellar lines.

METHODS: The EMBASE, PubMed, and web of science databases were systematically searched. Methodological quality was checked using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. We also performed statistical analyses using Stata software to examine the efficacy and safety of ABO.

RESULTS: Nine randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that at maximum frown, the proportion of responders as measured by the investigator's live assessment and subject's self-assessment of moderate-to-severe glabellar lines were significantly higher in the ABO and ASI treatment groups than in the placebo group. In addition, from baseline to maximum frown, the ≥1-grade improvement rate in moderate-to-severe glabellar lines severity was also significantly higher in the ABO and ASI treatment groups than in the placebo group. No significant differences in adverse events were found between ABO, ASI and placebo groups, indicating that ABO and ASI have good safety.

CONCLUSIONS: ABO and ASI are effective and safe options for the treatment of moderate-to-severe glabellar lines. More high-quality studies are needed to verify these conclusions.