Conservative treatment of Bell's palsy with steroids and dextran-pentoxiphylline combined therapy.

In 1980, Stennert proposed for the treatment of Bell's palsy an infusion therapy consisting of initially high dosages of steroids in combination with low-molecular dextran and pentoxiphylline. Excellent results were reported as a consequence of administering this treatment scheme. This "steroid-dextran" medication was modified (SD therapy) and administered in 172 cases of Bell's palsy. The results were compared with those of a group of 59 patients who had been treated with orally administered low-dose steroids in combination with vasodilators, adenosine triphosphate and vitamins. All patients with incomplete palsies recovered completely, regardless of the mode of treatment. In cases of complete palsy, 87% of patients recovered completely when treated with SD therapy. In contrast, 68% of the patients treated with orally administered steroids recovered completely.