Objective: To estimate the prevalence and analyze the clinical profile of hemifacial spasm in Northern Cyprus.

Background: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by involuntary, clonic or tonic movements of muscles innervated by the facial nerve on one side. The association between hemifacial spasm and hypertension was frequently indicated in the literature. Northern Cyprus may be a favourable area for a prevalence study for HFS because botulinum toxin treatment is mainly provided by one hospital, which is serving 76% of the population.

Methods: Hemifacial spasm patients seeking for medical treatment in a tertiary teaching hospital between the years 2002 and 2015 were included in the study. All patients diagnosed by a neurologist. The age, gender, disease duration, presence of hypertension, affected side were recorded.

Results: Twenty three patients with HFS included in the study. Fourteen (61%) were male, nine (39%) were female. Male to female ratio was 1.5:1.0. Mean age of the patients was 66.3 (42-81) years. Disease duration was between 1 to32 (mean 6.2) years. Affected side was left in eleven patients, right in ten, while two had bilateral HFS. Seventeen (74%) of the patients had hypertension. The current census data indicated the population of the Northern Cyprus as 286,257. Our hospital is serving a wide area with a population of 216,516 giving a prevalence of 10.6 per 100.00.

Conclusions: The prevalence rate of our study is similar with the previous studies published in the literature.We found a male predominance which does not correspond with the previous studies. Hypertension is a frequent seen condition among our HFS patients, replicating the association between hemifacial spasm and hypertension indicated in the literature. References: 1. Wang A, Jankovic J. Hemifacial spasm: clinical findings and treatment. Muscle and Nerve 1998;21:1740-1747. 2. Nilsen B, Le KD, Dietrichs E.Prevalence of hemifacial spasm in Oslo, Norway. Neurology, 2004;63:1532-1533.

« Back to 2016 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/prevalence-of-hemifacial-spasm-in-northern-cyprus/