Detection of human herpesvirus 6 and varicella-zoster virus in tear fluid of patients with Bell's palsy by PCR.
Human herpesvirus 6 DNA was detected by PCR in the tear fluid of 7 (35%) of 20 patients with Bell's palsy and of 1 (5%) of 20 healthy controls. Varicella-zoster virus was detected by PCR in the tear fluid of 2 of 20 Bell's palsy patients but in none of the tear fluids from 20 healthy controls. These findings suggest an association between human herpesviruses and Bell's palsy.
Pitkäranta
A
A
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. anne.pitkaranta@helsinki.fi
Piiparinen
H
H
Mannonen
L
L
Vesaluoma
M
M
Vaheri
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013666:Tears / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral