Conservative treatment of Bell's palsy with steroids and dextran-pentoxiphylline combined therapy.
In 1980, Stennert proposed for the treatment of Bell's palsy an infusion therapy consisting of initially high dosages of steroids in combination with low-molecular dextran and pentoxiphylline. Excellent results were reported as a consequence of administering this treatment scheme. This "steroid-dextran" medication was modified (SD therapy) and administered in 172 cases of Bell's palsy. The results were compared with those of a group of 59 patients who had been treated with orally administered low-dose steroids in combination with vasodilators, adenosine triphosphate and vitamins. All patients with incomplete palsies recovered completely, regardless of the mode of treatment. In cases of complete palsy, 87% of patients recovered completely when treated with SD therapy. In contrast, 68% of the patients treated with orally administered steroids recovered completely.
Kinishi
M
M
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
Amatsu
M
M
Hosomi
H
H
D003911:Dextrans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003911:Dextrans; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010431:Pentoxifylline; D006854:Hydrocortisone