Pharmacological treatment of idiopathic facial nerve paralysis: What is the evidence?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v29i5.11164Keywords:
, Idiopathic Peripheral Facial Palsy, Bell’s Palsy, Corticosteroids, AntiviralsAbstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to review the evidence for the most effective pharmacological treatment for idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis using corticosteroids and antiviral agents. Data sources: PubMed, evidence based medicine websites, Portuguese Medical Journal Index and references of selected articles were searched. Methodology: An electronic database search was conducted for clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analysis (MA) and randomized controlled clinical trials, published between 01/2005 and 04/2012, in English and Portuguese, using the MeSH terms: Glucocorticoids; Antiviral Agents; Bell Palsy; Facial Paralysis. The Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) of the American Family Physician was used for the assessment of levels of evidence (LE) and the strength of recommendations. Results: Of the 181 articles found, seven MA were included. Three MA found significant clinical benefit from corticosteroid therapy compared to placebo treatment (LE 1). The use of antiviral drugs was no better than placebo in two studies (LE 2). The combination of corticosteroids and antiviral drugs was found to be similar to isolated corticosteroid therapy in two studies. In four studies, increased benefit from combination therapy was found compared to corticosteroid treatment alone, though this difference was not statistically significant. Benefit from the combination treatment was possibly more likely in cases of severe paralysis (LE 2). Conclusions: Evidence is strongest for the benefits of corticosteroids in the treatment of idiopathic facial nerve paralysis (Recommendation A). There is no evidence of benefit for antiviral drugs either alone or in combination with corticosteroids in the treatment of Bell’s palsy (Recommendation B). In patients with severe paralysis, there may be a small benefit in adding an antiviral drug to steroid therapy (Recommendation B). Numerous methodological limitations in the reported studies as well as the heterogeneity between studies were noted.Downloads
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