18 October 2007

Scottish study offers hope to Bell's Palsy sufferers

*** strictly embargoed for use until 00.01 am Thursday October 18th 2007 ***

A major study by Scottish researchers of the disfiguring condition Bell’s Palsy has found that early treatment with steroids significantly improves the chances of a complete recovery.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Dundee, examined almost 500 sufferers of Bell’s Palsy, a condition caused by problems with the facial nerve which can result in facial disfigurement and paralysis of one side of the face.

The condition affects around 1 in 60 people during their lifetime, or around 100 people per month in Scotland. It can strike almost anyone at any age but disproportionately affects pregnant women and sufferers of diabetes, flu, colds and other upper respiratory ailments. High-profile sufferers of the condition have included George Clooney and Pierce Brosnan.

The study examined the effects of early treatment with the steroid prednisolone and the anti-viral agent acyclovir. Researchers found no additional benefit from the anti-viral treatment but prednisolone offered a substantial increase in complete recovery rates.

Findings of the study are published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

There had been a growing body of literature in recent years that had pointed to Bell’s Palsy being caused by viruses, hence it was being treated more widely with anti-viral drugs, which are expensive. However, the Scottish study shows prednisolone, which is already a commonly prescribed steroid and relatively inexpensive, is the best treatment.

The researchers found that treatment with prednisolone offered a 95% rate of complete recovery after nine months. 83% showed complete recovery at three months of treatment.

"This offers a significant improvement in how we treat Bell’s Palsy and it will make a real difference to patients," said Professor Frank Sullivan, Director of the Scottish School of Primary Care at the University of Dundee, who led the study.

"The present situation sees a mixture of different treatments given to patients, from steroids to anti-virals to not giving them anything. Around 80% of people get better without any treatment, but our findings significantly improve on that."

"What this study gives us is clear-cut evidence that early treatment with steroids offers by far the best results for complete recovery."

The condition was first identified by Scottish clinician Sir Charles Bell in the 19th century but its cause remains a mystery. In good working order, the facial nerve enables us to smile and close our eyes. Sufferers are affected by a sudden paralysis, characterised by the swelling of the facial nerve located in its bony canal in the skull.

"What we have found is that prednisolone can reduce that swelling, so that the nerve can get back to working normally," said Professor Sullivan. "Unfortunately it would appear that in around 5% of cases the damage caused to the nerve is more permanent and therefore complete recovery is not possible with currently available treatments."

"Early treatment of the condition, with steroids, is the key for patients."

The study was carried out with support from other Scottish universities at Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow and from the Chief Scientist Office of NHS Scotland and GP services around the country. The Project was funded by NHS Health Technology Assessment Programme.

"The support of GPs and consultants and the commitment of the patients who joined the study has been absolutely crucial in making this study a success," said Professor Sullivan. "Furthermore, this study shows that important research like this can be carried out in the primary care sector and deliver real results."

NOTES TO EDITORS

Scottish Bell's Palsy Study: www.dundee.ac.uk/bells

Bell’s Palsy Association website: www.bellspalsy.org.uk/

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk