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Prednisolone and valaciclovir in Bell's palsy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial

Engstrom, Mats ; Berg, Thomas ; Stjernquist-Desatnik, Anna LU ; Axelsson, Sara LU ; Pitkaranta, Anne ; Hultcrantz, Malou ; Kanerva, Mervi ; Hanner, Per and Jonsson, Lars (2008) 30th Congress of the Nordic-Association-of-Otolaryngology 7(11). p.993-1000
Abstract
Background Previous trials of corticosteroid or antiviral treatments for Bell's palsy have been underpowered or have had insufficient follow-up. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term and long-term effects of prednisolone and valaciclovir in the recovery of the affected facial nerve in a large number of patients. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial, patients aged 18 to 75 years who sought care directly or were referred from emergency departments or general practitioners within 72 h of onset of acute, unilateral, peripheral facial palsy, between May, 2001, and September, 2006, were assessed. Patients were randomly assigned in permuted blocks of eight to receive placebo plus placebo;... (More)
Background Previous trials of corticosteroid or antiviral treatments for Bell's palsy have been underpowered or have had insufficient follow-up. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term and long-term effects of prednisolone and valaciclovir in the recovery of the affected facial nerve in a large number of patients. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial, patients aged 18 to 75 years who sought care directly or were referred from emergency departments or general practitioners within 72 h of onset of acute, unilateral, peripheral facial palsy, between May, 2001, and September, 2006, were assessed. Patients were randomly assigned in permuted blocks of eight to receive placebo plus placebo; 60 mg prednisolone per day for 5 days then reduced by 10 mg per day (for a total treatment time of 10 days) plus placebo; 1000 mg valaciclovir three times per day for 7 days plus placebo; or prednisolone (10 days) plus valaciclovir (7 days). Follow-up was for 12 months. The primary outcome event was time to complete recovery of facial function, as assessed with a regional Sunnybrook scale score of 100 points. Analysis was by modified intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00510263. Findings Of 839 patients who were randomly assigned, 829 were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis: 206 received placebo plus placebo, 210 prednisolone plus placebo, 207 valaciclovir plus placebo, and 206 prednisolone plus valaciclovir. Time to recovery was significantly shorter in the 416 patients who received prednisolone compared with the 413 patients who did not (hazard ratio 1.40, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.64; p<0.0001). There was no difference in time to recovery between the 413 patients treated with valaciclovir and the 416 patients who did not receive valaciclovir (1.01, 0.85 to 1.19; p=0.90). The number of patients with adverse events was similar in all treatment arms. Interpretation Prednisolone shortened the time to complete recovery in patients with Bell's palsy, whereas valaciclovir did not affect facial recovery. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
LANCET NEUROLOGY
volume
7
issue
11
pages
993 - 1000
publisher
Elsevier
conference name
30th Congress of the Nordic-Association-of-Otolaryngology
conference dates
2008-06-11 - 2008-06-14
external identifiers
  • wos:000260745800011
  • scopus:53449087324
ISSN
1474-4465
1474-4422
DOI
10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70221-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
30d9b5d0-6340-4918-83ed-d38326c449bc (old id 1283038)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:51:12
date last changed
2024-12-04 17:26:54
@inproceedings{30d9b5d0-6340-4918-83ed-d38326c449bc,
  abstract     = {{Background Previous trials of corticosteroid or antiviral treatments for Bell's palsy have been underpowered or have had insufficient follow-up. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term and long-term effects of prednisolone and valaciclovir in the recovery of the affected facial nerve in a large number of patients. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial, patients aged 18 to 75 years who sought care directly or were referred from emergency departments or general practitioners within 72 h of onset of acute, unilateral, peripheral facial palsy, between May, 2001, and September, 2006, were assessed. Patients were randomly assigned in permuted blocks of eight to receive placebo plus placebo; 60 mg prednisolone per day for 5 days then reduced by 10 mg per day (for a total treatment time of 10 days) plus placebo; 1000 mg valaciclovir three times per day for 7 days plus placebo; or prednisolone (10 days) plus valaciclovir (7 days). Follow-up was for 12 months. The primary outcome event was time to complete recovery of facial function, as assessed with a regional Sunnybrook scale score of 100 points. Analysis was by modified intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00510263. Findings Of 839 patients who were randomly assigned, 829 were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis: 206 received placebo plus placebo, 210 prednisolone plus placebo, 207 valaciclovir plus placebo, and 206 prednisolone plus valaciclovir. Time to recovery was significantly shorter in the 416 patients who received prednisolone compared with the 413 patients who did not (hazard ratio 1.40, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.64; p&lt;0.0001). There was no difference in time to recovery between the 413 patients treated with valaciclovir and the 416 patients who did not receive valaciclovir (1.01, 0.85 to 1.19; p=0.90). The number of patients with adverse events was similar in all treatment arms. Interpretation Prednisolone shortened the time to complete recovery in patients with Bell's palsy, whereas valaciclovir did not affect facial recovery.}},
  author       = {{Engstrom, Mats and Berg, Thomas and Stjernquist-Desatnik, Anna and Axelsson, Sara and Pitkaranta, Anne and Hultcrantz, Malou and Kanerva, Mervi and Hanner, Per and Jonsson, Lars}},
  booktitle    = {{LANCET NEUROLOGY}},
  issn         = {{1474-4465}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11}},
  pages        = {{993--1000}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  title        = {{Prednisolone and valaciclovir in Bell's palsy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70221-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70221-7}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}