biostudies-literatureUnknown6(1)Goerttler TUniversitätsklinikum Essen<h4>Background</h4>Intragastric botulinum neurotoxin injections (IBNI) are offered off-label in the private medical sector in a few European countries as a safe and effective weight-loss measure. In February and March 2023, an outbreak of iatrogenic botulism occurred in several European countries following IBNI treatment in Turkey. This case series describes the clinical features of severe iatrogenic botulism after IBNI.<h4>Methods</h4>We retrospectively summarize the clinical course and emergency department and intensive care unit interventions in ten cases of severe iatrogenic botulism that occurred after receiving IBNI in this sudden outbreak in Austria and Germany.<h4>Results</h4>Seven out of ten cases initially showed characteristic symptoms of botulism with diplopia, dysphagia, dysarNeurological research and practice52https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11520667biostudies-literatureIatrogenic botulism after intragastric botulinum neurotoxin injections - a major outbreak.PMC11520667Musacchio TLapa SKlebe STinnemann PGoerttler TBetz IRDafsari HKleine CBlechinger SMikolajewska ASpickschen JHagenacker TFertl EDorner BGSteindl DWunderlich GFink GKienitz RZeiner PSGrefkes-Hermann CWeber FDorner MBvan der Linden CRueger MAKleinschnitz CBarbe MTPetrik SStrzelczyk ADemir STotzeck AHinrichs CfalseIatrogenic botulism after intragastric botulinum neurotoxin injections - a major outbreak.<h4>Background</h4>Intragastric botulinum neurotoxin injections (IBNI) are offered off-label in the private medical sector in a few European countries as a safe and effective weight-loss measure. In February and March 2023, an outbreak of iatrogenic botulism occurred in several European countries following IBNI treatment in Turkey. This case series describes the clinical features of severe iatrogenic botulism after IBNI.<h4>Methods</h4>We retrospectively summarize the clinical course and emergency department and intensive care unit interventions in ten cases of severe iatrogenic botulism that occurred after receiving IBNI in this sudden outbreak in Austria and Germany.<h4>Results</h4>Seven out of ten cases initially showed characteristic symptoms of botulism with diplopia, dysphagia, dysar2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2025-04-04T13:20:10.553Z2025-04-04T13:20:10.553ZS-EPMC115206673947296810.1186/s42466-024-00350-3