[The incorporation of acyclovir into the treatment of peripheral paralysis. A study of 45 cases].

The relation between use of acyclovir and facial nerve palsy prognosis was studied. In a randomised study, steroids or steroids + acyclovir (oral doses for Bell's palsy, and intravenous doses for Ramsay Hunt's syndrome) were given to 45 patients with facial palsy. There was a significant reduction of sequelae in patients treated with acyclovir in the group of Ramsay Hunt's syndrome (n = 15) (p less than 0.05). There were no significant differences in the group of Bell's palsy (n = 30) (p greater than 0.05), treated with acyclovir compared with steroids.