title: Facial palsy in Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome and Bell's palsy: familial history and recurrence tendency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare genetic predilection and recurrence tendency between facial palsy in Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) and Bell's palsy
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out an investigation on patients with facial palsy in MRS and those with Bell's palsy who visited the outpatient department in our hospital between February 2009 and February 2013. They were asked about familial history and whether it was the first episode, with the results recorded and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 16 patients with facial palsy in MRS and 860 patients with Bell's palsy involved in the study. Familial history was positive in 5 of 16 patients (31.3%) with facial palsy in MRS and 56 of 860 patients (6.5%) with Bell's palsy (P < .01). Twelve of 16 cases (75%) with facial palsy in MRS and 88 of 860 cases (10.2%) with Bell's palsy had a history of facial palsy in the past (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to Bell's palsy, facial palsy in MRS has an obvious genetic predilection and recurrence tendency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Baochun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China zhcyong65@126.com.
authors.forename: Chengyong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zeli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002681:China; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D008556:Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010375:Pedigree; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence
keywords: Bell’s palsy; Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome; facial palsy; familial history