Valacyclovir for the treatment of Bell's palsy.
Despite recent evidence suggesting that Bell's palsy is associated with reactivation of alfa-herpes viruses, the disease has been treated empirically, and the use of valacyclovir has not been definitively established. In 2007, two prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled trials evaluating valacyclovir were reported in patients with Bell's palsy. One demonstrated that valacyclovir/prednisolone therapy was statistically more effective than placebo/prednisolone therapy in improving the recovery of patients with Bell's palsy, excluding zoster sine herpete. However, considering the cost-benefit ratio of this treatment and the limitations of virological diagnoses, we recommend that valacyclovir should be used in cases of severe palsy within 3 days after the onset of Bell's palsy.
Hato
Naohito
N
Ehime University School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, Shitsukawa, Toon city, Ehime 791-0295, Japan. nhato@m.ehime-u.ac.jp
Sawai
Naoki
N
Teraoka
Masato
M
Wakisaka
Hiroyuki
H
Takahashi
Hirotaka
H
Hinohira
Yasuyuki
Y
Gyo
Kiyofumi
K
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir