Genetic aspects of ataxias in a cohort of Turkish patients.

INTRODUCTION: Ataxia is one of the clinical findings of the movement disorder disease group. Although there are many underlying etiological reasons, genetic etiology has an increasing significance thanks to the recently developing technology. The aim of this study is to present the variants detected in WES analysis excluding non-genetic causes, in patients with ataxia. METHODS: Thirty-six patients who were referred to us with findings of ataxia and diagnosed through WES or other molecular genetic analysis methods were included in our study. At the same time, information such as the onset time of the complaints, consanguinity status between parents, and the presence of relatives with similar symptoms were evaluated. If available, the patient's biochemical and radiological test results were presented. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were diagnosed through WES or CES. The rate of detected autosomal recessive inheritance disease was 80.5%, while that of autosomal dominant inheritance disease was 19.5%. Abnormal cerebellum was detected on brain MRI images in 26 patients, while polyneuropathy was detected on EMG in eleven of them. While the majority of the patients were compatible with similar cases reported in the literature, five patients had different/additional features (variants in MCM3AP, AGTPBP1, GDAP2, and SH3TC2 genes). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of ataxia patients with unknown etiology is made possible thanks to these clues. Consideration of a genetic approach is recommended in patients with ataxia of unknown etiology.

Alterations in the spinal cord, trigeminal nerve ganglion, and infraorbital nerve through inducing compression of the dorsal horn region at the upper cervical cord in trigeminal neuralgia.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) cases encountered frequently in daily practice indicate significant gaps that still need to be illuminated in the etiopathogenesis. In this study, a novel TN animal model was developed by compressing the dorsal horn (DH) of the upper cervical spinal cord. METHODS: Eighteen rabbits were equally divided into three groups, namely control (CG), sham (SG), and spinal cord compression (SCC) groups. External pressure was applied to the left side at the C3 level in the SCC group. Dorsal hemilaminectomy was performed in the SG, and the operative side was closed without compression. No procedure was implemented in the control group. Samples from the SC, TG, and ION were taken after seven days. For the histochemical staining, damage and axons with myelin were scored using Hematoxylin and Eosin and Toluidine Blue, respectively. Immunohistochemistry, nuclei, apoptotic index, astrocyte activity, microglial labeling, and CD11b were evaluated. RESULTS: Mechanical allodynia was observed on the ipsilateral side in the SCC group. In addition, both the TG and ION were partially damaged from SC compression, which resulted in significant histopathological changes and increased the expression of all markers in both the SG and SCC groups compared to that in the CG. There was a notable increase in tissue damage, an increase in the number of apoptotic nuclei, an increase in the apoptotic index, an indication of astrocytic gliosis, and an upsurge in microglial cells. Significant increases were noted in the SG group, whereas more pronounced significant increases were observed in the SCC group. Transmission electron microscopy revealed myelin damage, mitochondrial disruption, and increased anchoring particles. Similar changes were observed to a lesser extent in the contralateral spinal cord. CONCLUSION: Ipsilateral trigeminal neuropathic pain was developed due to upper cervical SCC. The clinical finding is supported by immunohistochemical and ultrastructural changes. Thus, alterations in the DH due to compression of the upper cervical region should be considered as a potential cause of idiopathic TN.

Multiple sclerosis prevalence and its relationship with economic status in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, the prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has increased in Turkey. However, the prevalence of MS in Middle Anatolia, specifically Afyonkarahisar, remains unknown. Additionally, the potential link between economic status and MS has not yet been explored in Turkey. METHODS: A stratified sampling method was employed to select samples from the population residing in Afyonkarahisar City Center, taking into account demographic factors such as income level, sex, and age. The sample size was calculated using the formula N = p.q.Zα2/d2, where an average prevalence rate of 70/100,000 was considered based on previous studies. The minimum sample size was 29,858. Considering incomplete, inaccurate, and low-reliability data, data were collected from 30,500 individuals and 30,408 individuals were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in the center of Afyonkarahisar was 105.2 per 100,000 individuals. Upon investigating the association between economic status and MS prevalence, the findings revealed rates of 193.6 per 100,000 in individuals with high income, contrasting with 80.2 per 100,000 in those with low income. Notably, a heightened prevalence of MS is evident among individuals with higher income levels. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a significantly elevated prevalence of MS in Afyonkarahisar, the highest in Turkey. The inverse correlation between the prevalence of MS and socioeconomic status is intriguing. Possible reasons for the high prevalence include the relatively new and specific geologic and environmental conditions in the area.

A case of Guillain-Barré syndrome related to COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND: After the first COVID-19 case, reported neurological complications are increasing day by day. METHOD: In this paper, we present a benign-course Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) emerging 2 weeks after COVID-19 infection in a 35-years-old male. RESULTS: Cough and fever were started 18 days ago and his PCR test was resulted positive for COVID-19 infection. After treatment and quarantine were completed, he developed sudden leg weakness following autonomic features. Cerebrospinal fluid was suggestive for GBS despite the electrodiagnostic test was not helpful because it was done in the first days. He recovered without needing any immunotherapy. CONCLUSION: Our case suggested that COVID-19 can cause atypical benign GBS forms in addition to well-known variants. Comprehensive studies are needed to describe the unknowns and determine the exact prevalence of GBS after COVID-19 infection, including mild cases that did not require hospital admission.

Neurological symptoms and findings in COVID-19: a prospective clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate neurologic symptoms and findings in patients with COVID-19 infection hospitalized in a ward and intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: This study was designed as a prospective study. Hospitalized COVID-19 rRt-PCR positive patients in the ward and ICU were included in the study. A 54-item questionnaire was used to evaluate the patients. Patients were examined within 3 hours of hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 379 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 56.1 ± 17.8. 89 of the patients were in intensive care. At least one general symptom was recorded in 95.5% of patients. The most common neurologic symptoms were myalgia (48.5%), headache (39.6%), anosmia (34.8%), and dysgeusia (34%). Neurological symptoms in ICU patients were higher than in the ward. 53.6% of patients had comorbidities. DISCUSSION: This study indicated that the prevalence of neurological symptoms was very high in patients with COVID-19. The percentage of neurological symptoms and findings was higher in patients hospitalized in ICU.

Headache related to mask use of healthcare workers in COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that a new type of headache may develop as a result of face mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical features of face mask-related headache during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study carried out on healthcare workers at the Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University. The number of workers at our university was established. Sample size was calculated using the G*Power program. A questionnaire consisting of questions relating to pre-existing headache, an aggravation in headache, and de-novo headache was filled out by 3 neurologists with all participants. RESULTS: Data was collected from a total of 375 participants, after the exclusion of 5 individuals who refused to participate. Out of all participants, 26 (6.9%) used a filtering mask, 274 (73.1%) used a surgical mask, 75 (20.0%) participants used a combination of both masks. The number of participants with preexisting headache was 114 (30.4%) had pre-existing headache. Of those with pre-existing headache, 77 (67.5%) healthcare workers had reported an aggravation in their headache after mask use. De-novo headache was observed in 116 (30.9%) of participants. De-novo headache characteristics included throbbing in 17 (14.7%) participants and pressing in 99 (85.3%) participants. In addition, symptoms such as tachypnea, sleep disturbance, and fatigue were found to be significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that healthcare workers develop headaches due to use of masks during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Prevalence of Trigeminal Neuralgia in Turkey: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: Population-based studies on the prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) worldwide are rare and the epidemiology of TN in Turkey is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of TN in Turkey. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based, descriptive epidemiological study in Eregli, Turkey. Participants over the age of 18 were screened using a self-assessment form, and potential patients were identified by a 'neuroscreening team'. Suspected patients were invited for a clinical examination and evaluated by a senior neurologist. Any required imaging was carried out at a university hospital. RESULTS: Data were collected from a total of 9605 participants, after the exclusion of 247 individuals who refused to participate. Seven suspected patients were invited to a public health center for clinical evaluation. One patient was diagnosed with SUNCT (Short-lasting, Unilateral, Neuralgiform headache attacks with Conjunctival injection and Tearing) and one patient was diagnosed with post-herpetic neuralgia. A definite diagnosis of TN was confirmed in five participants. The crude prevalence was found to be 52.1/100.000. The mean age of cases was 62.2 ± 8.3 years and the female/male ratio was 4/1. TN was classified as 'symptomatic' in one patient with multiple sclerosis. The other four cases were diagnosed with classical TN. Right side involvement was identified in three cases (60%), whereas left side involvement was seen in two cases (40%). DISCUSSION: This study establishes the prevalence of TN in Turkey for the first time. The prevalence rate is low when compared with other international studies.

Air pollution, a possible risk factor for multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Studies focusing attention on the effects of environmental pollution on the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) are on the increase. The aim of this study was to determine MS prevalence in a city home to an iron and steel factory which causes air pollution. METHODS: The study was designed as a cross-sectional, population-based, descriptive epidemiologic study. Eregli city, which has an iron and steel factory and proven air pollution, was screened. Additionally, Devrek city, which is a rural and clean city, located 40 km away from Eregli was assigned and results were compared. A validated questionnaire was used for screening. McDonald 2010 criteria were used to diagnose cases. RESULTS: 32 261 people were screened in Eregli, and 21 963 people were screened in Devrek. In total, 41 patients were diagnosed with clinical definite MS. Crude prevalence was found to be 96.1/100 000 in Eregli and 45.5/100 000 in Devrek. The mean age of patients was 39.8, and the female/male ratio was 1.9. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate a more than double MS prevalence rate in the area home to an iron and steel factory when compared to the rural city. This supports the hypothesis that air pollution may be a possible etiological factor in MS.

Greater occipital and supraorbital nerve blockade for the preventive treatment of migraine: a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Nerve injections have been used for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine in recent decades. Most of these injections focused on greater occipital nerve (GON) blockade. However, few studies were placebo controlled, and only a few of them investigated GON and supraorbital nerve (SON) blockade together. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of GON and SON blockade with local anesthetics for the preventive treatment of migraine without aura. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients diagnosed with migraine without aura were included in the study. Patients were divided randomly. One group was injected with 1% lidocaine, the other group was injected with 0.9% saline. GON and SON injections were done bilaterally. The injections were repeated weekly for 3 weeks. Patients were followed up for 2 months to assess clinical response. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients completed the study. After 2 months, the number of headache days decreased significantly from 12.8 ± 10.9 to 5.3 ± 7.4, and VAS decreased from 8.3 ± 1.0 to 5.5 ± 1.9 in the blockade group. The number of headache days decreased from 12.4 ± 10.3 to 7.5 ± 7.2 and VAS decreased from 8.2 ± 1.1 to 7.4 ± 1.3 in the placebo group. Response was seen in 65.1% of the patients in the blockade group (65.4% for episodic migraine, 64.7% for chronic migraine) and 28.6% of the patients in the placebo group. The difference was significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that GON and SON blockade with lidocaine was more effective than the placebo in the prophylactic treatment of both episodic and chronic migraine.

Restless legs syndrome in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of restless leg syndrome (RLS) in type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and to determine the risk factors. METHODS: Patients were recruited from the Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital Diabetes Center. Patients between 18-80 years of age and meeting a minimum 5 years diagnosis of type-2 DM were included. All patients were examined by the same neurologist in terms of having RLS. The diagnosis was made according to the updated International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group consensus criteria. Mimicking conditions such as myalgia, venous stasis, leg edema, arthritis, leg cramps, positional discomfort and habitual foot tapping were carefully investigated and excluded. Laboratory data, insulin use, family history and other related co-morbidities connected to RLS patients were recorded. RLS severity assessment was scored and recorded. RESULTS: 318 patients were included in the study. The prevalence of RLS in type-2 DM patients was found to be 28.3%. RLS prevalence in females was 33.3% and 20.6% in males. 39 patients (43.3%) had a family history of RLS. 43 patients with RLS had a co-morbidity link with RLS. Any co-morbidity linked to RLS was not seen in 47 patients. The prevalence rate of RLS in patients without co-morbidities was 17.1%. Mean duration of DM in patients with RLS was 15.6±6.7years while in DM patients without RLS was 13.7±6.3years. The relationship between RLS and the duration of diabetes was found to be statically significant. (p=0.025). 68 (75.6%) of patients diagnosed with RLS were treated with insulin. A statistical significance was found in the development of RLS and insulin usage (p=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study which shows the RLS prevalence and risk factors in Turkish type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. The results indicated that RLS is much more frequent in DM patients even after excluding polyneuropathy than in general Turkish population. The duration of diabetes and insulin use are related to RLS.

Multiple sclerosis prevalence study: The comparison of 3 coastal cities, located in the black sea and mediterranean regions of Turkey.

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) has significantly increased all over the world. Recent studies have shown that Turkey has quite a high prevalence. The aim of this study is to estimate prevalence in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions of Turkey and to compare the results.This study was designed as a door to door survey in 3 cities. One is located in the Mediterranean region (South), 2 are located in the Black Sea region (North). A previous validated form was used for screening in the field. The patients were examined first in the field, then in the regional health facility. McDonald criteria were used for the diagnosis.In total, 26 patients were diagnosed with MS. The prevalence was found to be 18.6/100,000 in Artvin (Black Sea region), 55.5/100,000 in Ordu, (Black Sea region), 52.00/100,000 in Gazipasa (Mediterranean region). The female/male ratio was 2.25.This study is the first prevalence study which was conducted in the Mediterranean City (South) of Turkey. The prevalence rate was found to be higher than expected in the Mediterranean city of Gazipasa. The results showed that the prevalence varies from region to region. Latitude difference was not observed.

Stroke prevalence among the Turkish population in a rural area of Istanbul: A community-based study.

BACKGROUND: The population-based information on the prevalence of stroke from rural areas of Middle East countries including Turkey is unknown. Our aim is to evaluate the prevalence of stroke in those ⩾18 years in the Turkish population in a rural area of Istanbul. METHODS: A cross-sectional door-to-door study was conducted in a rural area of Istanbul between 1 March and 30 March 2013. A research protocol recommended by World Health Organization for developing countries was used. Each screening teams consisted of one neurologist, one local nurse, and five surveyors. Teams were trained about the survey and questionnaire. The patients, who claimed to have suffered a stroke, were examined, and the diagnosis was confirmed by a neurologist on site. The findings and medical records were documented. RESULTS: In total, 2906 people ⩾18 years were screened. 50 stroke cases were detected. 80% of those were found to have had an ischemic stroke, 14% of those were hemorrhagic cases, and 6% of those had an unclassified stroke type. The overall prevalence rate in those ⩾ 18 years was 1.7%. The male/female ratio was 0.92. Young (<45) stroke prevalence was found to be 0.6%. CONCLUSION: This study was the first of its kind to show the stroke prevalence among Turkish population ⩾ 18 years in a rural area of Istanbul. When compared to other studies which investigate people ⩾45 years from Turkey, the result (in the same age group) was moderate high. The male/female ratio was low compared to many other studies.

Stroke Prevalence in a Coastal Town on the Black Sea Coast in Turkey: Community Based Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to determine the stroke prevalence in Akçakoca which is a rural area in Turkey. METHODS: The study was designed as a cross-sectional, door-to-door survey. The stroke questionnaire was completed by a trained team in the presence of the participants according to their answers. Based on the screenings, patients who had been diagnosed with stroke previously were reexamined by a neurologist and determined the prevalence values, risk factors, and stroke types. RESULTS: A total of 3750 people over 44 years old were reached in the screenings. It was determined that 83 people had previously suffered a stroke. The prevalence rate of stroke in those above 44 years was found to be 2.2 (98% confidence level and ± 2% margin of error). 70 (84.3%) patients had suffered an ischemic stroke while 12 (14.5%) had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. Male/female ratio was 1.1. CONCLUSION: The results of this study give the prevalence rate of stroke among the Turkish population living in a rural area. Due to a lack of other similar studies, it is impossible to make any data comparison. However, the results of this study help shed light on the stroke prevalence rate.

Stroke epidemiology in Karabük city Turkey: Community based study.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke has been projected to increase in developing countries like Turkey. Information about the prevalence of stroke may uncover the etiology of stroke and overcome its impact burden. However, data is limited due to a lack of studies based in Turkey and neighboring regions. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of stroke in the Turkish city of Karabük and to pave the way for future epidemiological studies in Turkey. METHODS: The study was designed as a cross-sectional, door-to-door survey. The questionnaire was completed by a trained team in the presence of the participants according to their answers. Patients who had been diagnosed with stroke prior to the survey were re-examined by a neurologist. RESULTS: 3131 persons who were above 44 years old were screened. 129 of them were found to have had a stroke previously. The prevalence rate of stroke above 44 years was found to be 4.12% (98% confidence level and ± 2% margin of error). 72.1% of stroke patients had hypertension. Male/female ratio was 0.72. CONCLUSION: This study showed a high prevalence rate of stroke in Karabük Turkey with a low male/female ratio when compared to other studies.

Effects of multiple sclerosis and medications on menopausal age.

Objectives We aimed to determine whether multiple sclerosis (MS) and methylprednisolone and disease-modifying drugs have an effect on menopausal age. Methods A total of 86 patients and 98 healthy subjects were included in this study. The natural menopausal age of the patients and healthy subjects were compared. The cumulative dosages of methylprednisolone, beta interferons (IFNßs), and glatiramer acetate were calculated. The effects of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), duration of the disease, and cumulative dosage of medications on menopausal age were evaluated. Results The patients' mean menopausal age was 45.3 ± 4.8 years and healthy subjects' menopausal age was 46.8 ± 4.3 years, with no significant difference between the two groups. The cumulative dosage of methylprednisolone showed an effect on menopausal age. There was a significant inverse correlation between menopausal age and dosage of IFNß-1b, while the disease duration and EDSS score showed no correlation with menopausal age. Conclusions We conclude that menopausal age is not affected by MS. However, long-term methylprednisolone and IFNß-1b treatments may change menopausal age in a dose-dependent manner.

Botulinum toxin in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: 6-Month follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) has been successfully utilized to treat trigeminal neuralgia. In this study, through the use of a new technique, the efficacy of the injection of BTX-A to the maxillary and mandibular nerves was evaluated. METHODS: A total of 27 patients were injected with 100 Units of BTX-A to the maxillary and mandibular nerves. Visual analogue scale score and pain frequency were assessed before treatment and at the first week, second month, and sixth month after treatment. Patients with ≥50% reduction in mean pain score at the second and sixth month were defined as responders. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients were included in the study. BTX-A significantly reduced pain intensity and pain attack frequency at the first week, second month, and sixth month after treatment. At the second month, 74.1% of patients, at the sixth month, 88.9% of patients responded to treatment. Forty-four percent of patients did not experience any pain at the sixth month. The mean recurrence period was 87.7 ±â€Š20.4. BTX-A was well tolerated and showed few treatment-related adverse events. CONCLUSION: Injection to the maxillary and mandibular roots seems to be a highly effective method. In the event of recurrence, after each injection, the pain severity and attack frequency decreased.

Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy (Aman) With Motor Conduction Blocks In Childhood; Case Report.

Objective Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), characterized with decreased compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) and absence of demyelinating findings in electrophysiological studies, is a subtype of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). A 4 yr-old male patient presented with ascending weakness, dysarthria and dysphagia to Istanbul Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital Neurology outpatient for three days to in 2012. Dysphonia, restricted eye movements, flaccid tetraplegia and areflexia were found in neurological examination. There were motor conduction blocks in all peripheral nerves in electrophysiological studies.According to these findings the patient was diagnosed as Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP). Reduction of CMAP amplitudes in posterior tibial nerve, absence of CMAPs in median, ulnar and peroneal nerves and loss of motor conduction blocks were found in following electrophysiological studies. According to these findings, patient was diagnosed as AMAN. Motor conduction blocks may appear in early stage of AMAN and they disappear in later examinations. That's why electrophysiological studies must be repeated in patients with GBS.

[The role of pericranial muscles in the succesful management of episodic tension type headache]. / Epizodik gerilim tipi basagrisinin basarili tedavisinde perikraniyal kaslarin rolü

OBJECTIVES: Peripheral and central nociceptive mechanisms are responsible for the development of Tension Type Headache (TTH). Analgesics are frequently used in the treatment of acute TTH. Antidepressants are used in prevention. In this study, the therapeutic efficacy of local application of lidocaine was investigated in Episodic Tension Type Headache (ETTH) patients. METHODS: ETTH patients with pericranial tenderness (n=20, Group 1) and without pericranial tenderness (n=20, Group 2) were included in our study. Three sessions of local injection of 1% lidocaine were performed in both groups. Two-sided intramuscular injections of 1 mL were applied for each patient. The muscles treated were the frontal, temporal, masseter, sternokloidomastoid, semispinalis capitis, splenius capitis and trapezius muscles. Patients were evaluated in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months. The number of painful days per month and pain intensities were recorded according to Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after the treatment. RESULTS: 11 male and 29 female patients were included in the study. The mean ages of Group 1 and Group 2 were 35.95 ± 9.85 (18-53) and 34.85 ± 10.04 (20-54) years, respectively. There was no difference between the groups in terms of age, gender, pain frequency and pain intensity (p>0.05). The frequency and severity of pain was significantly lower in pericranial-sensitive ETTH patients at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months after local lidocaine injections compared to ETTH patients having pericranial tenderness (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Local lidocaine application can be used as an effective method in the treatment of ETTH patients with pericranial tenderness.

Prevalence of multiple sclerosis door-to-door survey in Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Istanbul, Turkey, is unknown. We investigated the prevalence of MS in the district of Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional field research study using door-to-door sampling. Maltepe is a district of Istanbul beside the sea of Marmara (population 359,298 from 2000 census). The two-phase study screened 32,531 subjects using the Poser criteria for clinical diagnosis. The chi(2) test was used for analyses of frequency distributions. RESULTS: 33 of 32,531 people were diagnosed with MS. Their average age was 41 +/- 12.0 years (43 +/- 12.7 years for females and 37 +/- 9.6 years for males). The prevalence of MS in Maltepe was 101.4/100,000 within the total population (118.7/100,000 in the female and 76.0/100,000 in the male populations). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rates of MS in the Turkish population living in a district of Istanbul are considerably higher than we thought. And the prevalence rate is much higher than neighboring countries. They are similar to those recently recorded in Sicily and Germany. These figures suggest that the prevalence rate of MS is not totally dependent upon geographical variation. However, the research of our results needs to be confirmed with further investigations in order to determine the prevalence of MS in Turkey with confidence.

The efficacy of steroids in idiopathic facial nerve paralysis: an open, randomized, prospective controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: Although corticosteroid therapy is widely used in idiopathic facial nerve paralysis, its efficacy has not been clearly demonstrated. This study was designed to evaluate the role of steroids in idiopathic facial nerve paralysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 56 patients (29 males, 27 females; mean age, in men 44.1, in women 40.3 years) with a diagnosis of idiopathic facial nerve paralysis. Within the first three days after the onset of symptoms, the patients were randomly assigned to two groups to receive either steroids or other medications for the prevention of ocular complications or to provide pain relief. The severity of facial paralysis was evaluated using the House-Brackmann classification before and after three and six weeks of the treatment. Regression to stage 1 or 2 disease was regarded as a successful response. RESULTS: Although the initial response to steroid therapy seemed to be better, the results at the end of three and six weeks of the treatment were not statistically different from those of patients receiving other supportive treatments (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Further studies with large patient series are needed to clarify the use of steroids in the treatment of idiopathic facial nerve paralysis.