Acyclovir improves recovery rate of facial nerve palsy in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Although the antiviral agent, acyclovir, is currently employed for the treatment in Ramsay Hunt syndrome, the benefit of acyclovir on facial nerve is still unknown and remains controversial. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of acyclovir in facial nerve recovery in Ramsay Hunt syndrome. METHODS: To evaluate drug effect on facial nerve function, evaluation of the facial voluntary movement and nerve excitability testing were performed. We have used an infusion therapy of acyclovir in combination with a high dose of steroid (AS), which was started within 7 days of onset of facial nerve palsy in 91 patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The results were compared with those of 47 patients whose therapy was steroid alone started within 7 days of onset. RESULTS: Out of 91 patients treated with AS, nerve exitability was good in 68 (75%), while it was poor in 17 and absent in six. Of 47 patients treated with steroid alone, nerve exitability was good in 25 (53%), while it was poor in 11 and absent in 11. There was statistically significant difference between AS and steroid therapy in the posttreatment degree of nerve function. Complete recovery to grade I in facial voluntary movement was attained in 82 of 91 patients (90%) in the AS therapy, while out of 47 patients treated with steroid alone complete recovery to grade I was attained in only 30 (64%). A statistically significant difference in the recovery rate of facial nerve function was induced between AS and steroid therapy. CONCLUSION: The AS therapy was proved to keep good degree of nerve function indicated with nerve excitability testing and improve recovery rate of facial nerve in Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Based on this study, we now believe that the AS therapy is an advisable treatment modality to improve the recovery rate of facial nerve function in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Conservative treatment of Bell's palsy with steroids and dextran-pentoxiphylline combined therapy.

In 1980, Stennert proposed for the treatment of Bell's palsy an infusion therapy consisting of initially high dosages of steroids in combination with low-molecular dextran and pentoxiphylline. Excellent results were reported as a consequence of administering this treatment scheme. This "steroid-dextran" medication was modified (SD therapy) and administered in 172 cases of Bell's palsy. The results were compared with those of a group of 59 patients who had been treated with orally administered low-dose steroids in combination with vasodilators, adenosine triphosphate and vitamins. All patients with incomplete palsies recovered completely, regardless of the mode of treatment. In cases of complete palsy, 87% of patients recovered completely when treated with SD therapy. In contrast, 68% of the patients treated with orally administered steroids recovered completely.

[Conservative treatment of Bell's palsy--high dose steroid infusion with low-molecular dextran].

The etiology of Bell's palsy has not been as yet completely elucidated and the treatment is empirical and controversial. The two most common forms of treatment are steroid therapy and surgery. On the basis of the pathophysiology of Bell's palsy that edema as well as primary or secondary ischemia lead to both compression and hypoxia, Stennert employed high doses of cortisone for a strong antiphlogistic and anti-edematous effect, and dextran in combination with pentoxifylline to increase peripheral nerve perfusion and reported high recovery rate. Since the past 3 years, we have been treating patients with Bell's palsy with a high dose of steroid plus low-molecular dextran (SD therapy). Hydrocortisone was added directly to 500 ml of dextran solution with ATP and vitamins, starting with 500 mg and finally down with 100mg during 7 days. Before we had adopted this regimen, the patients with Bell's palsy were treated with orally-administrated steroid. A half dose of steroid was administrated in the latter regimen. SD therapy was employed in 120 cases of Bell's palsy, and its results were compared with those of 82 cases with orally-administrated steroid. In a total of 67 cases with incomplete palsy, all cases obtained complete recovery within one month after the onset regardless of the mode of treatment. Each patients with complete palsy was examined with a nerve excitability test (NET) at the first visit and one week later. According to the response of NET, the patients with complete palsy were divided into the following three groups; "good", "poor" and "absent". In "good" group, all cases with SD therapy had complete recovery, while the recovery rate of 31 cases with orally-administrated steroid therapy was 90%. This difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Medical treatment of Bell's palsy. Oral vs. intravenous administration.

Infusion therapy using low-molecular dextran in combination with high-dose cortisone was modified from Stennert's original protocol and indicated in 50 cases of Bell's palsy. The effects of infusion were compared with the outcome in 36 cases treated by orally-administered steroids and vasodilators. In the case of incomplete palsy, the recovery rate was excellent regardless of the mode of treatment. If the palsy is not progressive, it is not necessary for patients with this condition to have infusion therapy. In the case of complete palsy, 95% of those with normal nerve excitability (NE) experienced complete recovery when treated by infusion. However, only 71% of this group experienced complete recovery when treated with oral administration. In the group with diminished or absent NE, complete recovery was obtained in 58% of the patients treated with infusion, whereas only 18% recovered completely when given oral administration. Thus, the recovery rate increased sharply in the case of infusion therapy. Therefore, the above-mentioned method of infusion therapy is indicated in cases of complete or progressively incomplete Bell's palsy except in those cases where its use is contra-indicated for some other reason.