Eficacia de los antivirales en la parálisis de Bell

María Cristina Vázquez; Nury Sánchez; Judith Calvo; Abayubá Perna

Authors

María Cristina Vázquez Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Instituto de Neurología, Neurología, Profesora Adjunta
Nury Sánchez Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Instituto de Neurología, Neurología, Asistente
Judith Calvo Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Instituto de Neurología, Neurología, Asistente
Abayubá Perna Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Instituto de Neurología, Neurología, Asistente

Keywords:

BELL PALSY, VALACICLOVIR, PREDNISONE, ANTIVIRAL AGENTS, HERPESVIRUS 1 HUMAN

Abstract

Introduction: Bell’s Palsy is a frequent condition, and 15% of patients affected show incomplete recoveries. Over the past years, wide evidence has been gathered as to the possible incidence of Herpes simplex virus type 1 in its etiology.
Objectives: to compare the efficacy of valacyclovir and prednisone versus prednisone plus placebo.
Methods: a prospective, randomized and placebo controlled trial was carried out. Of 41 patients included in the study, 21 were treated with valacy-clovir, 2g a day for seven days, and prednisone; and 19 with prednisone plus placebo, administered orally.
Clinical controls were carried out at weeks 2, 4, 8 and 12. Patients who had incomplete recoveries were followed studied for six months. Recovery was defined as satisfactory when the score was over 90, using a facial paralysis complex scale (FGS – Facial Grading Scale).
Results: no meaningful difference in the evolution of the facial paralysis were found between the two groups.
After six months, recovery was 86.4% in the valacyclo-vir and prednisone group, and 89.5% in the prednisone plus placebo group (p=0,86). Average recovery time was 70.2 and 71.1 days, respectively (p=0,88).
Conclusions: our results fail to prove additional benefits of valacyclovir in the treatment of Bell’s Palsy. According to current evidence available, there is no agreement regarding the antivirals ordinary use in all cases of Bell’s Palsy (NCT00561106).

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