The Clinical Analysis of Recurrent Bell's Palsy

재발 벨마비의 임상 분석

Background: Idiopathic facial nerve palsy, or Bell's palsy (BP), is a common and important disease. Recurrent Bell's palsy has been known as a rare entity with only a few cases in the literature. Methods: A total of 111 consecutive patients with acute BP patients were enrolled at Daegu Catholic University Hospital from July 2005 to March 2007. We classified the patients into two groups - single BP and recurrent BP - and compared them by demographic data, clinical features, MRI findings and prognosis. The degree of BP was graded according to the House and Brackmann facial nerve grading system. Results: Recurrent BP was observed in 10 (9%) patients. The number of recurrence was varied from 2 to 5. The mean age of first attack in recurrent BP was $35.70{\pm}23.65$ years old and was earlier than that of the single BP ($50.94{\pm}16.21$ year). The larger proportion of the single BP had an abnormal enhancement of affected facial nerve (91.3%) than the recurrent BP (50%). The recurrent BP showed worse prognosis than the single BP. The associated conditions, etiology, and clinical features were similar between two groups. Conclusions: In comparison with single BP, recurrent BP showed earlier onset of first BP attack, less frequent abnormal enhancement of facial nerve on MRI, and worse prognosis.