•  
  •  
 

Subject Area

Pediatrics

Article Type

Case Report

Abstract

Objective The aim was to evaluate the role of Cerebrolysin in the treatment of Bell's palsy as a form of peripheral nerve disorder. Background Bell's palsy is a common facial nerve disorder with no available studies assessing the role of Cerebrolysin in its treatment. Patients and methods This is a single-blinded randomized clinical trial conducted on 52 patients with Bell's palsy who were distributed between two groups to receive the classical treatment for Bell's palsy. Group I received a placebo in the form of normal saline, whereas group II received Cerebrolysin. Both groups were compared regarding the overall rates of recovery and the time intervals between the onset of the disease and the onset of first clinical improvement at one hand and the onset of maximally achieved recovery at the other hand. Moreover, the rate of recovery was correlated with initial electroneurographic value. Results Cerebrolysin had no effect on the overall rate of recovery compared with placebo (P = 0.27). However, it shortened the time intervals between the onset of the disease and the onset of first clinical improvement at one hand and the onset of maximally achieved recovery at the other hand, with a highly statistically significant difference when compared with placebo (P < 0.001 for both). Its effect was more prominent in more severe degrees of nerve degeneration, with no statistical significance (P = 0.07). Conclusions Cerebrolysin has a therapeutic effect as an adjunctive treatment in the management of idiopathic facial paralysis with a significant effect on the speed of recovery rather than the overall rate of recovery.

Download

Share

COinS