The use of cromolyn sodium in the prevention of nerve degeneration in Bell's palsy.

Clinical use by inhalation of cromolyn sulphate, a mast cell degranulator inhibitor, within four days after the onset of Bell's palsy will prevent nerve degeneration and provide complete recovery within a range of two weeks. The successful administration of the drug supports our experimental concept of Bell's palsy as an immunological disease. The triggering action of the mast cell as a part of IgE antibody cell mediator system is postulated as the key role on controlling the neural edema. In this paper we contrast the difference in disease duration time and degree of recovery in a group of patients using high dose prednisone therapy and a group using cromolyn sulphate.