Objective: To detect the role of the plasma endothelin in the process of Bell palsy and its relationship to prognosis.
Method: The plasma endothelin were respectively determined with radioimmunoassay in 21 patients with Bell palsy and 20 normal control subjects.
Result: The patients who were suffering from Bell palsy exhibited a statistically significant (P < 0.01) increase in the endothelin level compared with that in the 20 normal control subjects. A significantly higher level of the plasma endothelin was found in unsatisfactory recovery group compared with that in satisfactory recovery group.
Conclusion: Endothelin may play an important role in the process of Bell palsy, and may be a useful marker for the assessment of prognosis to the patients.