Idiopathic Facial Palsy and Pregnancy

Abstract

Idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis is a common clinical condition, but the etiology and preferred mode of treatment are still undecided. The currently popular etiological theory centers around disturbances of microvascular circulation. The literature contains conflicting statements on the incidence of this condition in pregnancy. Six cases are reported, one bilateral, in all of which the paralysis developed within six weeks of delivery. The incidence of facial paralysis was not significantly different in our pregnant and nonpregnant populations of similar age groups. A battery of tests failed to reveal any specific etiologic factors. None of the patients had toxemia, therefore, hypertension is not a causative factor. Comparison with the Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome would indicate that tissue edema is not involved in the pathogenesis of the idiopathic paralysis of pregnancy. Both idiopathic sudden deafness and idiopathic facial paralysis occur preferentially in the later stages of pregnancy and the early puerperium. Further research into the pathophysiology of this stage of pregnancy may clarify some of the etiological problems of these two conditions.