Investigating the correlation between serum albumin level and the prognosis of Bell's palsy.

ABSTRACT: To investigate the correlation between the serum albumin level and the prognosis of patients with Bell's palsy.We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 311 inpatients with Bell's palsy (BP) in our hospital between September 2018 and October 2019. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the recovered group (with the House-Brackmann grade ≤ 2) and the unrecovered group (with the House-Brackmann grade > 2), according to the follow-up results within 3 months after discharge. Blood test indicators (white blood cell count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, red cell distribution width, serum albumin level, globulin level) and basic clinical data (age, sex, course of the disease, inpatient days, comorbidity of hypertension, diabetes, and hepatitis B) of the 2 groups were compared to explore whether they were correlated with the prognosis of patients with Bell's palsy.The serum albumin level of patients with BP in the unrecovered group was significantly lower than that of the recovered group (medians [interquartile range], 40.75 [38.40, 43.85] vs 44 [42.10, 46.20], P < .001). Multivariate binary logistic regression revealed that serum albumin (odds ratio 0.772, 95% confidence interval 0.711-0.839, P < .001) was a protective factor for BP prognosis.Serum albumin is a protective factor for the prognosis of BP. Although more prospective clinical controlled trials are needed, our study provides valuable and crucial prognostic information for physicians.

Predictive Values of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Other Prognostic Factors in Pediatric Patients With Bell's Palsy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Bell's palsy (BP) is the most frequent cause of unilateral facial paralysis, and inflammation is believed to play an important role in pathogenesis. Due to its rarity, however, no consensus has been reached regarding optimum treatment or factors affecting prognosis. In the present study, treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of BP were investigated in pediatric patients who underwent steroid therapy. The goal was to investigate the relationship between BP and inflammation using multiple inflammatory markers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and red cell distribution width (RDW). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In all, 54 patients diagnosed with BP and 39 healthy randomly selected controls were enrolled in this retrospective study. Demographic characteristics and complete blood cell count test results were compared. In addition, prognostic factors were sought by dividing the 54 patients with BP into 2 groups according to the House-Brackmann grading system: low grade BP (grades II and III) and high grade BP (grades IV and V). Serum samples were analyzed retrospectively on initial presentation and 6 months after the symptom begins. Meaningful hematological parameters include NLR, PLR, MPV, and RDW. RESULTS: The NLR values in the BP group were significantly higher than in the control group. The NLR value in the 2 groups of patients with BP differed significantly. The mean PLR value in the BP group was higher than in the control group; however, there were no significant differences between the low-grade and high-grade BP groups nor were there any statically significant differences in the other characteristics. CONCLUSION: The NLR and PLR values are readily accessible parameters that may be useful prognostic markers in pediatric patients with BP. Further studies are required to confirm these results and their utility in predicting prognosis and treating pediatric patients with BP.

Is C-reactive protein to albumin ratio an indicator of poor prognosis in Bell's palsy?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio was associated with the prognosis in patients with Bell's palsy. METHODS: Reviewing records of 79 patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy, 3 groups were constituted: recovered group (with a House Brackman grade of 1 or 2 after treatment, 56 patients), unrecovered group (23 patients) and control group (60 healthy individuals). Age, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein to albumin ratio, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, white blood cell and hemoglobin values were compared among the groups. RESULTS: Age, hemoglobin and platelet to lymphocyte ratio were not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.12, p = 0.31, p = 0.86 and p = 0.87, respectively). Median C-reactive protein to albumin ratio, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and white blood cell were significantly greater both in non-recovery group (p < 0.001) and recovery group (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) compared to the control group. Additionally, median C-reactive protein to albumin ratio and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio were significantly greater in the non-recovery group, compared to the recovery group (p = 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). However, median white blood cell did not significantly differ between the non-recovery and the recovery groups (p = 0.89). CONCLUSION: Higher C-reactive protein to albumin ratio and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio were associated with poor prognosis in patients with Bell's palsy. C-reactive protein to albumin ratio might be the most significant indicator of poor prognosis in patients with Bell's palsy.

Prognostic Factors Associated With Recovery in Children With Bell's Palsy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the prognosis of children with Bell's palsy and analyze the prognostic factors affecting early recovery. METHODS: The records of children with a diagnosis of Bell's palsy were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic and clinical features including age, gender, House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System House-Brackmann Grading Scale (HBGS) grade at admission and follow-up, and the dosage and onset of steroid treatment were reviewed. Laboratory findings such as red blood cell distribution width and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were noted. The patients who were recovered within the first month (early recovery) were compared with the patients who were recovered after first month (late recovery) in terms of demographic, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and treatment modalities in order to determine the risk factors affecting early recovery. RESULTS: A total of 102 children (65 girls and 37 boys) with a mean age of 10.37 ± 4.2 years were included in the study. The complete recovery was detected in 101 children (%99) with Bell's palsy. Statistically significant difference was found in terms of dosage and time of onset of steroid treatment (P = .04, P = .035, respectively) and House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System grade on the 10th day (P = .001) between the early and late recovery groups. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of Bell's palsy in children was very good. The prognostic factors affecting the early recovery were being House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System grade 2 or 3 on the 10th day and receiving steroid treatment in the first 24 hours. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and red blood cell distribution width were not found to be predictive factors for early recovery.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as Prognostic Hematologic Markers of Bell's Palsy: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Bell's palsy (BP) is the most common cause of unilateral peripheral facial paralysis, and inflammation has been proposed as the main pathological cause. The study aim was to investigate the relationship between hematologic inflammatory markers, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and BP. DATA SOURCES: The following key words were used to search PubMed and Scopus for English language articles: Bell's palsy, facial palsy, facial paresis or facial paralysis, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet. STUDY SELECTION: Articles related to BP with NLR or PLR data. DATA EXTRACTION: The data included patient profiles, House-Brackmann score, treatment modality, NLR, and PLR. DATA SYNTHESIS: Seven articles were selected. A random effect model was used to analyze the aggregated data. Six of these articles that included the NLR and two that included the PLR of BP and control patients were analyzed for the difference between BP and control patients. Three articles that included the NLR of the recovery and nonrecovery groups were analyzed for the relationship between NLR and recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The NLR was significantly higher for the BP patients than for the controls. Furthermore, the NLR was significantly lower for the recovery group than for the nonrecovery group. A high NLR was associated with poor prognosis and related to the severity of facial nerve inflammation. There was no significant difference between the PLRs of the BP patients and controls. The NLR, but not the PLR, was found to be a useful prognostic indicator of BP.

Novel pre-therapeutic scoring system using patient and haematological data to predict facial palsy prognosis.

OBJECTIVES: We describe a novel scoring system, the facial Palsy Prognosis Prediction score (PPP score), which we test for reliability in predicting pre-therapeutic prognosis of facial palsy. We aimed to use readily available patient data that all clinicians have access to before starting treatment. DESIGN: Multicenter case series with chart review. SETTING: Three tertiary care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: We obtained haematological and demographic data from 468 facial palsy patients who were treated between 2010 and 2014 in three tertiary care hospitals. Patients were categorised as having Bell's palsy or Ramsey Hunt's palsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We compared the data of recovered and unrecovered patients. PPP scores consisted of combinatorial threshold values of continuous patient data (eg platelet count) and categorical variables (eg gender) that best predicted recovery. We created separate PPP scores for Bell's palsy patients (PPP-B) and for Ramsey Hunt's palsy patients (PPP-H). RESULTS: The PPP-B score included age (≥65 years), gender (male) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (≥2.9). The PPP-H score included age (≥50 years), monocyte rate (≥6.0%), mean corpuscular volume (≥95 fl) and platelet count (≤200 000 /µL). Patient recovery rate significantly decreased with increasing PPP scores (both PPP-B and PPP-H) in a step-wise manner. PPP scores (ie PPP-B score and PPP-H score) ≥2 were associated with worse than average prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Palsy Prognosis Prediction scores are useful for predicting prognosis of facial palsy before beginning treatment.

Plasma Fibrinogen in Patients With Bell Palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the plasma fibrinogen level in patients with Bell palsy and explore the significances of it in Bell palsy. METHODS: One hundred five consecutive patients with facial paralysis were divided into 3 groups: group I (Bell palsy), group II (temporal bone fractures), and group III (facial nerve schwannoma). In addition, 22 volunteers were defined as control group. Two milliliters fasting venous blood from elbow was collected, and was evaluated by CA-7000 Full-Automatic Coagulation Analyzer. RESULTS: The plasma fibrinogen concentration was significantly higher in the group of patients with Bell palsy (HB IV-VI) than that in the control group (P <0.05). There was no significant difference between group II and control group (P >0.05); similarly, there was also no marked difference between group III and control group (P >0.05). In group I, the plasma fibrinogen levels became higher with the HB grading increase. The plasma fibrinogen level of HB-VI was highest. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma fibrinogen has an important clinical meaning in Bell palsy, which should be used as routine examination items. Defibrinogen in treatment for patients with high plasma fibrinogen content also should be suggested.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of procalcitonin levels in patients with Bell's palsy.

Inflammation is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Bell's palsy (BP). Procalcitonin (PCT) is currently among the most frequently used proinflammatory biomarkers in clinical practice. In this study, we assessed the serum PCT levels for predicting the severity and prognosis of BP. In total, 32 patients with House-Brackmann (HB) grade II and III BP (low-grade group), 22 patients with HB grade IV and V (high-grade group) and 35 healthy individuals (control group) were included in this prospective study. PCT levels were compared among these three groups at the time of diagnosis. All patients received standard prednisolone and acyclovir treatment. The correlation between PCT levels and recovery was analyzed 3 months after treatment. The PCT levels for control, low-grade and high-grade BP groups were 0.01 ± 0.001, 0.35 ± 0.05, and 0.98 ± 0.41 ng/mL, respectively. The PCT level in low-grade group was significantly higher than that in control group (p < 0.001), and the PCT level in high-grade BP group was significantly higher than that in low-grade group (p = 0.01, p < 0.05). The complete recovery rate was 93.7 % in low-grade and 54.5 % in high-grade BP group (p = 0.015, p < 0.05). There was a strong negative correlation between PCT levels and recovery rates (r = -0.896, p < 0.001). PCT levels were significantly associated with the severity of BP and higher PCT levels were related with poor clinical outcome in terms of recovery. These results support the diagnostic and prognostic significance of PCT in patients with early BP.

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios of our pediatric patients with Bell's palsy.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) is considered to be a reliable indicator in etiological investigation and identification of the disease severity in inflammatory disorders. There are numerous observations or evidences suggesting that Bell's palsy is an inflammatory disorder. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to investigate the presence of any clue which might suggest inflammatory etiology and also the presence of compliance between NLR elevation and inflammation severity in children. METHODS: Patients younger than 18 years with Bell's palsy and who had not another inflammatory disorder in addition to Bell's palsy were included. A total of 25 patients and 25 healthy individuals were taken. The patient group and the control group were compared in terms of NLR, neutrophil and lymphocytes. The relationship of NLR with pre-treatment House-Brackmann classification was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age was 9.86±5.07 in the patient group and 9.14±5.94 in the control group. In all members of the patient group, oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg/d) was administered for 7 days. The post-treatment House-Brackmann classification of all patients was determined as grade 1. The average neutrophil values were significantly higher in the patient group. In terms of average lymphocyte values, no statistically significant difference was found. The average NLR value was 1.78 (0.93-4.58) in the pediatric patient group and 1.1 (0.6-2.05) in the control group. NLR was significantly higher in the patient group. NLR and pre-treatment House-Brackmann classification showed no statistically significant correlation (r=0.173, p>0.05). When cut-off value was taken as 3 for NLR, no statistically significant difference was found between groups. CONCLUSIONS: High NLR values determined in pediatric patients with Bell's palsy support the inflammatory feature of this disease. NLR is recommended as a supportive parameter in the diagnosis of pediatric patients with Bell's palsy.

Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in Bell's palsy and its correlation with facial nerve enhancement on MRI.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of inflammation and atherothrombosis in Bell's palsy (BP) by using neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV), respectively, and to study their relations with the facial nerve enhancement on temporal gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (TGd-MRI). STUDY DESIGN: Case control study. SETTING: Tertiary health institution. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 65 patients who were diagnosed with BP and a control group of 35 healthy individuals. The BP patients were also divided into 2 groups, those with facial nerve enhancement on TGd-MRI and those without enhancement. The NLR and MPV of each group were compared. RESULTS: The NLRs of the BP patients were significantly higher than control group (P = .001). The NLRs of patients with facial nerve enhancement on TGd-MRI were significantly higher than patients without enhancement (P = .001). There was a positive and significant correlation between NLR and House-Brackmann (HB) grade of the patients (r = 0.641; P < .05). MPV did not show any significant correlation with any of the parameters studied (P > .05). CONCLUSION: NLR can be used as a new and important marker in BP since it is high in BP patients and significantly correlated with HB grade and facial nerve enhancement on TGd-MR. On the other hand, MPV does not have such correlations. These results offer evidence to support an inflammatory theory rather than microvascular response theory in the etiopatogenesis of BP.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a novel-potential marker for predicting prognosis of Bell palsy.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Bell palsy can be defined as an idiopathic, acute, facial nerve palsy. Although the pathogenesis of Bell palsy is not fully understood, inflammation seems to play important role. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) ratio was defined as a novel potential marker to determine inflammation and it is routinely measured in peripheral blood. Our goal was to investigate the relationship between Bell palsy and inflammation by using NLR. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: The 54 patients who were followed up for Bell palsy for a period of 1 to 3 years, along with 45 age- and sex-matched controls, were included in the study. An automated blood cell counter was used for NLR measurements. All patients were treated with prednisone, 1 mg/kg per day with a progressive dose reduction. Patients were classified according to the House-Brackmann grading system at posttreatment period. Those with House-Brackmann grade I and grade II were regarded as satisfactory recovery; and those with House-Brackmann grade III to grade VI were regarded as nonsatisfactory recovery. RESULTS: The mean NLR and neutrophil values in patients with Bell palsy were significantly higher than in the control group (P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). In addition, NLR levels were higher in nonsatisfactory recovered patients compared with satisfactory recovered ones (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This is the first study investigating the relationship between NLR levels and Bell palsy and its prognosis. Our result suggest that while evaluating Bell palsy patients, NLR might be taken into account as a novel potential marker to predict the patients' prognosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3b.

The role of diabetes mellitus in the clinical presentation and prognosis of Bell palsy.

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.

Differential diagnosis of recurrent or bilateral peripheral facial palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the differential diagnosis of recurrent or bilateral peripheral facial palsy. METHOD: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: Two patients with recurrent, alternating, peripheral facial palsy are described. In both patients, additional investigation was performed to search for a specific diagnosis. In the first patient, only a positive family history was found, indicating a possible familial susceptibility. In the other patient, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were identified as risk factors. CONCLUSION: There is an important and extensive differential diagnosis of recurrent or bilateral facial palsy. However, in a large proportion of patients the cause remains unknown.

CSF and serum levels of soluble fractalkine (CX3CL1) in inflammatory diseases of the nervous system.

The new CX(3)C-chemokine fractalkine (CX(3)CL1) was measured by Western blot in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of patients with inflammatory diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system (Bell's palsy, BP; Guillain-Barré Syndrome, GBS; multiple sclerosis, MS; viral meningitis, VM; bacterial meningitis, BM) and patients with noninflammatory neurological diseases (controls). In controls, fractalkine was detectable at low concentrations in the CSF and, at much higher levels, in serum. In all inflammatory neurological diseases under study, CSF fractalkine levels were significantly (p<0.01) increased vs. controls (BM>>GBS>VM>MS>BP>controls). In serum, fractalkine levels were significantly increased only in MS patients. The fractalkine CSF/serum ratios (a measure of the chemotactic gradient) were significantly elevated in BM, VM and GBS; furthermore, they tended to be increased in BP and to be decreased in MS. The elevated fractalkine CSF/serum ratios in diseases without CSF pleocytosis (GBS, BP) and a lack of correlation between fractalkine levels and CSF leukocyte counts suggested that soluble fractalkine is not a major chemokine in the CSF. There was no evidence of significant intrathecal production of fractalkine as the mean fractalkine indices (fractalkine CSF/serum ratio:albumin CSF/serum ratio) were <1 in all inflammatory diseases and not significantly elevated vs. controls.

Serum cytokine levels in Bell's palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the significance of the serum levels of the cytokines (interleukine (IL-6, IL-8, IL-1b, IL-2r, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF - alpha)) in the patients with Bell's palsy. STUDY DESIGN: A clinical and laboratory study in which serum cytokine levels were compared between the patients who had Bell's palsy and healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with Bell's palsy and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The blood samples of the patients and controls were obtained, and serum IL-1b, IL-2r, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF- alpha levels determined with chemiluminescence enzyme immunometric assay on an Immulite Immunoassay. The serum of the patients was taken between 2 days and 1 month after the disease. The assay was not in vitro lymphocyte stimulation. RESULTS: The IL-6, IL-8 and TNF- alpha levels were significantly higher in Bell's palsy than in controls (p < 0.05). The IL-1b and IL-2r levels were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). The levels of cytokine IL-6, IL-8, TNF- alpha, IL-1b, IL-2r did not correlate with the degree of recovery (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: An alteration in the concentration of the cytokines is expected not only in many inflammatory and infectious diseases but also in Bell's palsy. Cytokines are not stored or preformed within cells. Therefore, high cytokine levels (IL-6 and IL-8, and TNF- alpha) should represent their production in response to underlying pathology in Bell's palsy, or these cytokines may be pathogenetic factors in Bell's palsy. However, serum levels of these cytokines do not help determine the prognosis in Bell's palsy as far as the results of this study are concerned.

[The determination of endothelin in patients with bell palsy and its significances bell palsy and its significances].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the role of the plasma endothelin in the process of Bell palsy and its relationship to prognosis. METHOD: The plasma endothelin were respectively determined with radioimmunoassay in 21 patients with Bell palsy and 20 normal control subjects. RESULT: The patients who were suffering from Bell palsy exhibited a statistically significant (P < 0.01) increase in the endothelin level compared with that in the 20 normal control subjects. A significantly higher level of the plasma endothelin was found in unsatisfactory recovery group compared with that in satisfactory recovery group. CONCLUSION: Endothelin may play an important role in the process of Bell palsy, and may be a useful marker for the assessment of prognosis to the patients.

Seroprevalencia de anticuerpos contra el virus HTLV-1 en pacientes con parálisis facial idiopática en Cali, Colombia / Seroprevalence of antibodies against the HTLV-1 virus in patients with idiopatic facial paralysis in Cali, Colombia

Una de las patologías que con mayor frecuencia es remitida al otorrinolaringólogo para su estudio es la parálisis facial (PF) catalogadas, la mayoría de las veces, como idiopáticas (PFI). En años recientes se han identificado regiones endémicas para la infección por el virus linfotrópico humano tipo 1 (HTVL-1), entre ellas el suroccidente de Colombia. Existen algunos reportes de asociación epidemiológica de esta infección y casos de (PF). Siendo el hospital Universitario del Valle (HUV) el principal centro de referencia de esta región, se pretendió con este estudio establecer la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos contra el HTVL-1 en pacientes con (PF). Se incluyeron todos los casos de PFI que consultaron por primera vez al servicio de ORL durante un período consecutivo de 4 meses. En total se evaluaron muestras de suero de 46 pacientes con PFI y de 109 controles utilizando de aglutinación de partículas (Serodia-HTLV-1), Fujirebio, Tokio). La prevalencia del virus HTVL-1 fue de 4,35 por ciento en el grupo de casos y de 0,91 por ciento en los controles