title: Prednisolone in Bell's palsy related to treatment start and age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if treatment start and age are related to the outcome in Bell's palsy patients treated with prednisolone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen otorhinolaryngologic centers in Sweden and 1 in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from the Scandinavian Bell's palsy study. A total of 829 patients were treated within 72 hours of onset of palsy. Follow-up was 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with placebo plus placebo (n = 206), prednisolone plus placebo (n = 210), valacyclovir plus placebo (n = 207), or prednisolone plus valacyclovir (n = 206).
  
  
  METHODS
  Facial function was assessed with the Sunnybrook grading system, and complete recovery was defined as Sunnybrook = 100. Time from onset of palsy to treatment start was registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients treated with prednisolone within 24 hours and 25 to 48 hours had significantly higher complete recovery rates, 66% (103/156) and 76% (128/168), than patients given no prednisolone, 51% (77/152) and 58% (102/177) (p = 0.008 and p = 0.0003, respectively). For patients treated within 49 to 72 hours of palsy onset, there were no significant differences. Patients aged 40 years or older had significantly higher complete recovery rates if treated with prednisolone, whereas patients aged younger than 40 years did not differ with respect to prednisolone treatment. However, synkinesis was significantly less in patients younger than 40 years given prednisolone (p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with prednisolone within 48 hours of onset of palsy resulted in significantly higher complete recovery rates and less synkinesis compared with no prednisolone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. sara.axelsson@skane.se
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Axelsson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jonsson
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Engström
authors.forename: Mervi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanerva
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pitkäranta
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stjernquist-Desatnik
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir