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The Course of Pain in Bell's Palsy: Treatment With Prednisolone and Valacyclovir.

Berg, Thomas ; Axelsson, Sara LU ; Engström, Mats ; Stjernquist-Desatnik, Anna LU ; Pitkäranta, Anne ; Kanerva, Mervi and Jonsson, Lars (2009) In Otology & Neurotology 30. p.842-846
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the effect of prednisolone and valacyclovir on ipsilateral pain around the ear and in the face or neck in Bell's palsy. The incidence and intensity of pain during the first 2 months of palsy and its prognostic value were also assessed. STUDY DESIGN:: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. SETTING:: Sixteen tertiary referral centers in Sweden and 1 in Finland. PATIENTS:: Data are part of the Scandinavian Bell's palsy study; 829 patients aged 18 to 75 years with onset of palsy within 72 hours were included. Follow-up time was 12 months. INTERVENTION:: Patients were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment arms in a factorial fashion: placebo plus placebo; prednisolone 60 mg daily for 5 days,... (More)
OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the effect of prednisolone and valacyclovir on ipsilateral pain around the ear and in the face or neck in Bell's palsy. The incidence and intensity of pain during the first 2 months of palsy and its prognostic value were also assessed. STUDY DESIGN:: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. SETTING:: Sixteen tertiary referral centers in Sweden and 1 in Finland. PATIENTS:: Data are part of the Scandinavian Bell's palsy study; 829 patients aged 18 to 75 years with onset of palsy within 72 hours were included. Follow-up time was 12 months. INTERVENTION:: Patients were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment arms in a factorial fashion: placebo plus placebo; prednisolone 60 mg daily for 5 days, then tapering for 5 days, plus placebo; valacyclovir 1,000 mg 3 times daily for 7 days plus placebo; or prednisolone plus valacyclovir. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: Pain was registered on a visual analog scale within 72 hours, at Days 11 to 17, 1 month, and 2 months. Facial function was assessed with the Sunnybrook and House-Brackmann systems. RESULTS:: Prednisolone and/or valacyclovir did not significantly affect the incidence or intensity of pain during the first 2 months. Pain was registered in 542 (65%) of 829 patients. At 2 months, 53 (8%) of 637 patients still reported pain. Subjects with pain at Days 11 to 17 had lower facial recovery rates at 12 months than those with no pain (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION:: Prednisolone and/or valacyclovir did not affect the incidence or intensity of ipsilateral pain in Bell's palsy. The incidence of pain was similar during the first 2 weeks and then decreased. Presence of pain at Days 11 to 17 indicated a worse prognosis for facial recovery. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Otology & Neurotology
volume
30
pages
842 - 846
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • wos:000276926900024
  • pmid:19503012
  • scopus:69749086888
  • pmid:19503012
ISSN
1537-4505
DOI
10.1097/MAO.0b013e3181ab31c8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3dd337cc-12c7-46cf-8816-ed38fe07ab2e (old id 1434429)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19503012?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:38:37
date last changed
2022-03-15 20:18:25
@article{3dd337cc-12c7-46cf-8816-ed38fe07ab2e,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the effect of prednisolone and valacyclovir on ipsilateral pain around the ear and in the face or neck in Bell's palsy. The incidence and intensity of pain during the first 2 months of palsy and its prognostic value were also assessed. STUDY DESIGN:: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. SETTING:: Sixteen tertiary referral centers in Sweden and 1 in Finland. PATIENTS:: Data are part of the Scandinavian Bell's palsy study; 829 patients aged 18 to 75 years with onset of palsy within 72 hours were included. Follow-up time was 12 months. INTERVENTION:: Patients were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment arms in a factorial fashion: placebo plus placebo; prednisolone 60 mg daily for 5 days, then tapering for 5 days, plus placebo; valacyclovir 1,000 mg 3 times daily for 7 days plus placebo; or prednisolone plus valacyclovir. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: Pain was registered on a visual analog scale within 72 hours, at Days 11 to 17, 1 month, and 2 months. Facial function was assessed with the Sunnybrook and House-Brackmann systems. RESULTS:: Prednisolone and/or valacyclovir did not significantly affect the incidence or intensity of pain during the first 2 months. Pain was registered in 542 (65%) of 829 patients. At 2 months, 53 (8%) of 637 patients still reported pain. Subjects with pain at Days 11 to 17 had lower facial recovery rates at 12 months than those with no pain (p &lt; 0.0001). CONCLUSION:: Prednisolone and/or valacyclovir did not affect the incidence or intensity of ipsilateral pain in Bell's palsy. The incidence of pain was similar during the first 2 weeks and then decreased. Presence of pain at Days 11 to 17 indicated a worse prognosis for facial recovery.}},
  author       = {{Berg, Thomas and Axelsson, Sara and Engström, Mats and Stjernquist-Desatnik, Anna and Pitkäranta, Anne and Kanerva, Mervi and Jonsson, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1537-4505}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{842--846}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Otology & Neurotology}},
  title        = {{The Course of Pain in Bell's Palsy: Treatment With Prednisolone and Valacyclovir.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0b013e3181ab31c8}},
  doi          = {{10.1097/MAO.0b013e3181ab31c8}},
  volume       = {{30}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}