[Pharmacological treatment of Bell's palsy: favourable effects of prednisolone-based therapy now demonstrated]

Author(s): Opstelten W, Portegies P

Affiliation(s): Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap, afd. Richtlijnontwikkeling en Wetenschap, Postbus 3231, 3502 GE Utrecht. w.opstelten@nhg.org

Publication date & source: 2008-02-16, Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd., 152(7):362-4.

Publication type: English Abstract

Bell's palsy accounts for two-thirds ofall acute facial palsies. Presumed reactivation of the herpes simplex virus and concurrent swelling of the facial nerve prompted the use of antivirals in combination with corticosteroids, although evidence supporting the effectiveness of this approach was weak. A recently published randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial assessed the effectiveness of adding valacyclovir to prednisolone; another larger primary-care-based study compared treatment with prednisolone, acyclovir or both with placebo. In patients with severe or complete facial palsy, the addition of valacyclovir improved the chance of complete recovery, but as this study was single-blinded, results should be interpreted with caution. Early treatment with prednisolone (25 mg twice daily for to days) significantly improved the chance of complete recovery at 3 and 9 months. Acyclovir, given alone or in addition to prednisolone, did not show any benefit.