New study reports prednisolone significantly reduces lasting effects.

New Study Reports Prednisolone Significantly Reduces Lasting Effects of
Bell's Palsy
Facial paralysis expert, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, discusses the importance of new Bell’s palsytreatment findings. Los Angeles, California (May 23, 2012 -- According to a report in the May issue of Archives ofOtolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, a recent Swedish and Finnish Scandinavian Bell's palsy studyrevealed that treatment for Bell's palsy with steroids within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms appeared tosignificantly reduce the number of patients with mild to moderate palsy severity at 12 months regardless ofwhether patients received antiviral treatment with Valtrex.  “This study provides very important insight into the treatment of Bell’s palsy. The study shows that it may notmatter if antivirals are used or not as long as the individual is treated within 72 hours with steroids," said Dr.
Azizzadeh.
The randomized placebo-controlled trial, which focused on the effect of prednisolone in patients with Bell'spalsy, included 829 patients ages 18 to 75 years. Patients were divided into four treatment groups; placebo plusplacebo, prednisolone plus placebo, the antiviral valacyclovir (Valtrex) plus placebo, and prednisolone plusvalacyclovir.
The investigators evaluated facial function at 12 months using the Sunnybrook and House-Brackmann gradingsystems. Treatment with prednisolone significantly reduced mild and moderate sequelae in Bell’s palsy patientsat 12 months. However, prednisolone did not reduce the number of patients with severe sequelae. Additionally,valacyclovir alone, as well as the combination of prednisolone plus valacyclovir did not reduce the number ofpatients with sequelae compared with prednisolone alone.
Dr. Azizzadeh also believes that, "while most patients recover from the effects of Bell’s palsy within sixmonths, there are still a group of patients who experience severe degrees of synkinesis, or abnormal facialmovements, that could benefit from additional treatments such as Botox, neuromuscular retraining, fillers andor surgery. The treatments must always be customized.”  Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, the Director of The Facial Paralysis Institute, is a facial plastic and reconstructivesurgeon who is deeply committed to the treatment of individuals with facial paralysis and Bell’s palsy. Hisexpertise in facial plastic surgery has made him one of the most sought-after surgeons in the country.
 Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, the Facial Paralysis Institute provides their patients with the mostcomfortable and technologically advanced facilities in the field of medicine. For more information, please visit Contact Information
Risa Luksa
Facial Paralysis Institute
310-657-2203
Risa Luksa
Facial Paralysis Institute
310-657-2203
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Source: http://facialplastics.info/pdf/9539575.pdf