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J Korean Neurol Assoc. 2011;29(4):285-290.
- Clinical Analysis of Bell?s Palsy in One University Hospital
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Kyu-Chul Lee
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Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Korea
- 한 대학병원에서 시행한 벨마비 환자들의 임상양상 분석
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이규철, 이동국 석정임 유지훈
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대구가톨릭대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실
- Abstract
- Background
Bell's palsy (BP) is the most frequent disease of the seventh cranial nerve, and has a relatively good
prognosis. However, the precise etiology of the disorder has not been well understood. During the last decade, many
researchers have focused on the conditions that are associated with BP, including diabetes, hypertension, and viral
infection. We therefore analyzed that the etiology and clinical course of acute BP in patients in one university hospital.
Methods
The study comprised 241 BP patients who were examined over a 60-month period. Their clinical history was
taken, and neurologic examinations, laboratory tests, electrophysiologic studies, and brain imaging was performed. The
clinical severity of the facial palsy was assessed using the House-Brackman (HB) facial nerve grading scale. Patients were
followed up once a week during the first month, and for up to 2?months.
Results
Of the 241 patients, 103 (43.5%) were men and 138 (56.5%) were women, whose ages were 46.4±16.6 and
48.4±17.6?years, respectively (mean±SD). The initial examination revealed that 36.7% of the cohort had an HB grade
below 4, while in 63.3% the HB grade was above 3. Combined symptoms were as follows: postauricular pain (77.5%),
increased tear flow (23.4%), taste change (15.6%), and hyperacusis (15.1%). The initial facial nerve conduction study
performed within 1?week of presentation revealed a low compound muscle action potential amplitude in 140 (57.8%)
and an absent blink reflex in 225 (93%). On follow-up examination, 134 (59%) of the patients exhibited a partial
improvement by 4?weeks, and 166 (79.8%) had recovered completely within 2?months.
Conclusions
We describe the epidemiologic, clinical, electrophysiologic, and radiologic characteristics of BP patients at
one university hospital. Key Words: Bell?s palsy, Epidemiology, Clinical course
Keywords :
- 초록
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