title: Valacyclovir for the treatment of Bell's palsy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Ehime University School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, Shitsukawa, Toon city, Ehime 791-0295, Japan. nhato@m.ehime-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Naohito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hato
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sawai
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teraoka
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wakisaka
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hinohira
authors.forename: Kiyofumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gyo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir