{
  "abstract": "Objectives Clonidine is increasingly used in the management of childhood motor disorders. Reports are limited regarding the use of transdermal clonidine patches (TCPs) for this indication. We aimed to explore the use of TCPs in children and young people (CAYP) across specialist movement disorder services in the UK.Methods A cross-sectional service evaluation of TCP use in CAYP with motor disorders was performed. Where available, historical data on TCP use were also collected.Results Data were available for 259 CAYP from 11 services, with 176/259 (68%) under active follow-up. Median age at starting TCPs was 8.6 years (25th to 75th centile 5.2–12 years). Gross Motor Function Classification System level (or equivalent) was V for 206/253 (81.4%) CAYP. Clinically significant chorea was observed in 33/255 (12.9%), spasticity in 116/254 (45.7%) and dystonia in 234/256 (91.4%) CAYP. The most common reasons for TCP initiation were overall dystonia severity (61/259, 23.6%), concerns about absorption of enteral medication (54/259, 20.8%) and excess sedation with enteral clonidine (46/259, 17.8%). TCP use had been discontinued by 61/259 (23.6%) CAYP, most commonly because of skin rash (24/259, 9.3%). The median time to discontinuing patches was 3.5 months. In addition to TCPs, 148/259 (57.1%) of CAYP continued with enteral clonidine. Additional tone-reducing medication use ranged from 0 to 6 additional medications (modal number of medications 3),Conclusion We present the first UK-based multicentre evaluation of TCP use in CAYP with motor disorders, highlighting the complexity of the medical problems of these CAYP and their clinical management. TCPs appear generally to be tolerated by CAYP, but further work is required to establish their efficacy.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Paediatric Neurosciences, Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, England, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Daniel E Lumsden"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Paediatric Neurology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, England, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Robert Spaull"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Paediatric Neurology, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, Scotland, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Sarah Abernethy"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Mayy El Gamal"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, Scotland, UK",
        "Great North Children’s Hospital, Glasgow, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Katharine Forrest"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Paediatrics, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, England, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Louisa Akwaama Lemaire"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Complex Motor Disorder Service, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jean-Pierre Lin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Sofia Marques"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Paediatric Neurodisability, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, Scotland, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Valerie Orr"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Neuroscience, Great Ormond Street hospital, London, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Lucinda Carr"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Paediatric Neurology, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Yasmin De Alwis"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Paediatric Neurology, Great North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK",
        "Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Anita Devlin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Paediatric Palliative Care, Helen and Douglas House, Oxford, UK",
        "Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Emily Harrop"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Neurosciences, UCL-Institute of Child Health, London, England, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Manju Kurian"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Paediatric Neurodisability, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Claire Teresa Lundy"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Paediatric Neurology, Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Santosh Mordekar"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Paediatric Medicine, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK"
      ],
      "name": "karen Pysden"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Paediatric Neurology, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Todd Smallbone"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Rajib Lodh"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Transdermal clonidine patch use in the management of childhood hypertonia: a cross-sectional UK-wide service evaluation",
  "uid": "ec7bb92c-3d02-5620-8dec-eef68ad7e0c0"
}