J Korean Soc Laryngol Phoniatr Logoped.  2019 Dec;30(2):107-111. 10.22469/jkslp.2019.30.2.107.

The Effect of Steroid Therapy for Idiopathic Unilateral Vocal Cord Palsy

• Bae JW
• Lee G

• KMID: 2470493
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22469/jkslp.2019.30.2.107

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis (IVFP) is believed to be due to inflammation and edema of the recurrent laryngeal nerve caused by viral diseases such as upper respiratory tract infections. Corticosteroid has a potent anti-inflammatory action which should minimize nerve damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral steroid therapy on IVFP. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Study was performed for the IVFP patient from January 2012 to August 2017. Patient's dermography, direction and location of paralyzed vocal cords, history of hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and other underlying disease, smoking history, alcohol consumption and upper respiratory tract infection, and symptoms were investigated. Treatment was divided into three groups: the observation group, low-dose group, and high-dose group, and the recovery rate and time of vocal cord paralysis were analyzed in each group.
RESULTS
Thirty-seven patients were enrolled in this study. There was no relationship between oral steroid use, dosage and recovery of vocal cord paralysis. Oral steroids showed a rapid recovery of vocal cord paralysis, but there was no statistically significant difference in the time of recovery of vocal palsy with or without steroids (p=0.673). In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in recovery rate between the period to start of treatment, presence of diabetes mellitus, and treatment modality, but the recovery rate was high in the group with upper respiratory tract infection history (p=0.041).
CONCLUSION
In IVFP, oral steroid therapy has no significant difference in time and extent of recovery compared to the case of spontaneous recovery.

Keyword

Unilateral vocal cord paralysis; Larynx; Steroids

MeSH Terms

Alcohol Drinking
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Diabetes Mellitus
Edema
Humans
Hypertension
Inflammation
Larynx
Methods
Paralysis
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Respiratory Tract Infections
Smoke
Smoking
Steroids
Virus Diseases
Vocal Cord Paralysis*
Vocal Cords*
Smoke
Steroids