Search for Herpesviruses in cerebrospinal fluid of facial palsy patients by PCR

CONCLUSIONS: Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA were not detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with acute idiopathic peripheral facial palsy (Bell's palsy). Our results indicate either the absence of these viruses or the presence of technical shortcomings. The role of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in this disorder and the significance of a positive HHV-6 DNA finding in the central nervous system need further investigation. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine whether DNA of HSV-1, VZV, or HHV-6 can be found by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the CSF of peripheral facial palsy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used PCR to detect the presence of HSV-1, VZV, and HHV-6 DNA in CSF. This was a retrospective case control study with 33 peripheral facial palsy patients (34 CSF samples) in the study group (26 with Bell's palsy, 5 with simultaneously diagnosed herpesvirus infection, 1 with puerperal facial palsy, 1 with Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome). The control group included 36 patients, most with diagnosed or suspected Borreliosis and facial palsy or sudden deafness. RESULTS: One patient with Bell's palsy had HHV-6 DNA in CSF. Neither HSV-1 nor VZV DNA was detected in patients or controls.