تعريف
Hemifacial spasm is a neuromuscular disorder that causes frequent involuntary contractions to occur in the muscles on one side of the face.
أسباب
Hemifacial spasm is believed to be due in part to compression of the facial nerve where it meets the brainstem. The compression can be cause by:
- A blood vessel pressing on the facial nerve (most frequent cause)
- ورم
- Facial nerve injury
- Bony or other abnormalities that compress the nerve
عوامل الخطر
The following factor increases your chance of developing hemifacial spasm:
- Being a middle-aged or elderly woman
- ارتفاع ضغط الدم
الأعراض
- Intermittent twitching of the eyelid muscle
- Forced closure of the eye
- Spasms of the muscles of the lower face
- Mouth pulled to one side
- Continuous spasms involving all the muscles on one side of the face
التشخيص
سوف يسألك طبيبك عن الأعراض والتاريخ الطبي، وسيقوم بإجراء فحص بدني. قد تشمل الاختبارات ما يلي:
- Electromyography (EMG) —a test that measures and records electrical activity generated in muscle at rest and in response to muscle contraction
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) —a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of structures inside the head
- Computed tomography (CT) scan —a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the head
- Angiography —an x-ray exam of the blood vessels when they are filled with a contrast material
العلاج
Hemifacial spasm is usually a chronic condition. Remission of symptoms, although possible, has only been noted to occur in less than 10% of patients.
تحدث مع طبيبك حول أفضل خطة علاجية لك. تشمل خيارات العلاج ما يلي:
الدواء
- Carbamazepine —This is often used initially, with improvement in symptoms in up to half of patients who are treated.
- According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients of Asian ancestry who have a certain gene, called HLA-B*1502, and take carbamazepine are at risk for dangerous or even fatal skin reactions. If you are of Asian descent, the FDA recommends that you get tested for this gene before taking carbamazepine. If you have been taking this medicine for a few months with no skin reactions, then you are at low risk of developing these reactions. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medicine.
- Gabapentin and baclofen —These may also be beneficial for treating hemifacial spasm in some patients.
Botulinum Toxin Injections
Injecting botulinum toxin (ie, Botox) into the affected muscles can stop eyelid spasm for several months. These injections must be repeated, usually several times a year. Botulinum toxin injections are the treatment of choice.
جراحة
Microvascular decompression surgery repositions the blood vessel away from the nerve. This is successful in cases of hemifacial spasm where the cause is suspected to be a blood vessel compressing the facial nerve.
الوقاية
There is no known way to prevent hemifacial spasm.