title: The role of diabetes mellitus in the clinical presentation and prognosis of Bell palsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bell palsy is considered to be an entrapment neuropathy resulting from inflammation, edema, and strangulation. Diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia have all been related to microangiopathies. However, the relationship between the frequency, severity, and recovery course of Bell palsy in patients with these pathologies is a matter of controversy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six patients with Bell palsy were evaluated according to the House-Brackmann grading system a few days after the onset of the disease and 6 months later and correlated to their hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes records. Diabetes was evaluated by the use of serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 20 patients with abnormal HbA1c values were more frequently diagnosed with Bell palsy of grade V/VI (P = .008; odds ratio, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.4-15.2). However, their House-Brackmann scores were not found to be worse at the 6-month follow-up visit (P = .9). No correlations were found for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relationship between the severity of Bell palsy and abnormal HbA1c values seems to be demonstrated. However, the prognosis of these patients does not seem to be worse because at the 6-month follow-up visit they present similar scores to nondiabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. mariariga@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riga
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kefalidis
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Danielides
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human