Acute facial paralysis: a virological study

Abstract
A serological study using the complement fixation reaction for herpes zoster virus (HZV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) was carried out on 120 patients with Bell''s palsy and 5 with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. Three Bell''s palsy patients (2.5%) showed a significant HZV antibody titer rise. In no case was a rise of HSV antibody titer observed. Two Ramsay-Hunt patients showed a significant rise of HZV antibody titer. Rise of HSV antibody titer was not observed in this group. The Monosticon test to exclude infectious mononucleosis was negative in all cases of Bell''s palsy. In 2 cases of Bell''s palsy, a biopsy specimen for virus isolation was obtained during a decompression operation. No virus could be cultured from the epineurium of the 1st patient. That of the 2nd patient contained HSV type 1. There was no serological evidence of a HSV antibody titer rise.

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