Comparative prognosis in patients with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome and Bell's palsy

Abstract

Purpose Patients with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome have a poorer prognosis than patients with Bell’s palsy. Factors of metabolic syndrome affecting prognosis were therefore compared between patients with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome and those with Bell’s palsy.

Methods This retrospective study included 106 with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome and 182 with Bell’s palsy. Age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, blood test results, and ENoG results, stratified by House–Brackmann grade, were compared in patients with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome and Bell’s palsy. Both groups of patients were treated with steroids and the antiviral agent famciclovir.

Results Age, sex, body mass index, dyslipidemia, triglyceride, diabetes, hypertension, and onset of palsy did not differ in patients with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome and Bell’s palsy. Rates of favorable recovery in patients with severe facial palsy and DM were lower in patients with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome than with Bell’s palsy and were also lower in low-weight, normal weight, and overweight patients with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome than with Bell’s palsy. Rates of favorable recovery in patients with severe facial palsy and normal HDL, as well as in patients with severe facial palsy and < 10% ENoG, were lower in patients with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome than with Bell’s palsy.

Conclusions Among patients with severe facial palsy, along with diabetes and < 10% ENoG, unfavorable recovery rates were significantly higher in those with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome than with Bell’s palsy.