[Facial paralysis: treatment with an acyclovir-methylprednisolone combination, preliminary results].
BACKGROUND
Many actual data suspect a viral etiology to Bell's palsy. Herpes viridae are more and more incriminated. On these basis, we have studied the efficacity of parenteral association of 30 mg/Kg/j of Aciclovir and 1 mg/Kg/j of Methylprednisolone in the treatment of Bell's palsy with less than 12 days of evolution.


METHODS
The evaluation concern 53 patients. We also evaluated the functional motor result (using House and Brackmann staging) and search prognostic factors in clinic and paraclinic data. A viral investigation have been made in most of the cases.


RESULTS
Only one of our patients treated with Aciclovir keeps some sequeles (stage III of House and Brackmann classification). We didn't found any deleterious effect. Statistically, the electromyography is the only one test with a prognostic value. But we feel that delay between the starting and the treatment of the palsy is important. Viral tests show sometime abnormal Ig against the Herpes viridae group.


CONCLUSIONS
These promising results are lightened with a review of the literature. A multicentric investigation is already in place for a stronger statistic effect.
Darrouzet
V
V
C.H.U. Pellegrin, Clinique Universitaire O.R.L., Bordeaux, France.
Lacher-Fougère
S
S
Duclos
J Y
JY
Chambrin
A
A
Bébéar
J P
JP
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000212:Acyclovir; D008775:Methylprednisolone