Familial Bell's palsy: analysis of 25 families.

Of 625 patients with Bell's palsy, 26 from 25 families (4.0%) had a positive family history of Bell's palsy. Genealogic analysis of the families indicated the mode of inheritance of familial Bell's palsy possibly to be autosomal dominant inheritance with low penetration. The prognosis of familial Bell's palsy was generally favorable. Age, sex, recurrence, and inherited factors are discussed.