Familial idiopathic facial palsy

The etiology of idiopathic facial palsy (IFP) is still not defined. Familial inheritance has been found in 4-14% of cases. Among 116 patients with IFP admitted to the otolaryngology and neurology clinics at Kutahya State Hospital, 12 had positive family histories involving 10 different families. Review of the patients' histories showed that 13 members of families previously had IFP. In all, the 25 patients with familial IFP consisted of 12 males and 13 females and had an average age at onset of 34.3 years. Class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA) was investigated in 11 patients with familial IFP belonging to four separate families. The follow-up period was approximately 2 months. All cases except one recovered completely, with the latter patient having minimal contracture and facial paresis. However, HLA showed no significant increases in class I antigens. No notable difference was found in the clinical courses of patients with familial and non-familial IFP.