Potential association between recurrent facial nerve palsy and migraines

This study aimed to investigate the possible association between recurrent facial nerve palsy and migraines.

This study was a prospective case series with a two-year follow-up at an academic, tertiary referral centre and included patients with at least four episodes of recurrent lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy. All patients underwent standardised diagnostic tests.

Four patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The patients were all female with an average age at presentation of 40.75 years (range, 33-60 years) and an average age at the initial episode of 14 years (range, 12-16 years). The number of episodes varied between six and nine. All patients had at least one episode of facial nerve palsy on the contralateral side. Two patients were diagnosed and treated for migraine with aura remaining asymptomatic following prophylactic medication for migraines.

The results raise the possibility of an association between recurrent facial nerve palsy and migraines. Prospective studies in patients with even fewer episodes of facial nerve palsy could shed more light on this association.