TY - JOUR
T1 - Bell palsy complicating pregnancy
T2 - A review
AU - Cohen, Yoram
AU - Lavie, Ofer
AU - Granovsky-Grisaru, Sorina
AU - Aboulafia, Yeshaya
AU - Diamant, Yoram Z.
PY - 2000/3/1
Y1 - 2000/3/1
N2 - The aim of the present work was to review the published evidence on the association of Bell palsy (BP), an acute idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis of unknown etiology, with pregnancy. Reports have shown that women of reproductive age are affected two to four times more often than men of the same age, and pregnant women 3.3 times more often than nonpregnant women. The apparent predisposition of pregnant women to Bell palsy has been attributed to the high extracellular fluid content, viral inflammation, and immunosuppression characteristic of pregnancy, but findings are controversial. Most cases of Bell palsy occur in the third trimester or the puerperium. Onset is acute and painful. Some authors suggest that Bell palsy increases the risk of hypertension and toxemia of pregnancy, whereas the pregnant state, in turn, may affect the course and severity of disease. Recovery is usually good; poor prognostic markers are recurrence in subsequent pregnancy and bilateral disease, both of which are rare. Neonatal outcome is apparently unaffected, although this has been studied rarely. The preferred mode of management remains undecided; it is usually confined to supportive care. Corticosteroids in pregnancy are controversial. We think clinicians should be aware of these findings to avoid unnecessary testing and treatment and to help the patient cope with this acute, painful disease.
AB - The aim of the present work was to review the published evidence on the association of Bell palsy (BP), an acute idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis of unknown etiology, with pregnancy. Reports have shown that women of reproductive age are affected two to four times more often than men of the same age, and pregnant women 3.3 times more often than nonpregnant women. The apparent predisposition of pregnant women to Bell palsy has been attributed to the high extracellular fluid content, viral inflammation, and immunosuppression characteristic of pregnancy, but findings are controversial. Most cases of Bell palsy occur in the third trimester or the puerperium. Onset is acute and painful. Some authors suggest that Bell palsy increases the risk of hypertension and toxemia of pregnancy, whereas the pregnant state, in turn, may affect the course and severity of disease. Recovery is usually good; poor prognostic markers are recurrence in subsequent pregnancy and bilateral disease, both of which are rare. Neonatal outcome is apparently unaffected, although this has been studied rarely. The preferred mode of management remains undecided; it is usually confined to supportive care. Corticosteroids in pregnancy are controversial. We think clinicians should be aware of these findings to avoid unnecessary testing and treatment and to help the patient cope with this acute, painful disease.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034095989&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00006254-200003000-00027
DO - 10.1097/00006254-200003000-00027
M3 - Review article
C2 - 10713984
AN - SCOPUS:0034095989
SN - 0029-7828
VL - 55
SP - 184
EP - 188
JO - Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey
JF - Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey
IS - 3
ER -