Antiphospholipid antibody-related Bell's palsy in young women

Singh U, Rastogi H, Patne SCU
Correspondence: Prof Usha Singh, usha_path@bhu.ac.in

ABSTRACT
The present report describes three young women aged 25, 20 and 15 years who presented with Bell’s palsy. Two of the patients had a past history of the disease, which responded to steroid treatment. All three patients were positive for antiphospholipid antibody (APLA). In addition, one of the patients tested positive for antinuclear antibodies; however, there was no clinical evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. All three patients responded well to steroid therapy. We conclude that Bell’s palsy may be one of the manifestations of APLA syndrome, and thus, APLA testing should be done in such cases.

Keywords: antiphospholipid antibody, APLA syndrome, autoimmune neuropathy, Bell’s palsy, facial palsy
Singapore Med J 2012; 53(3): e55–e56