title: Serologic examinations of hepatitis, cytomegalovirus, and rubella in patients with Bell's palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this retrospective case review was to investigate serologic evidence of cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, and hepatitis A, B, and C viruses in patients with Bell's palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 patients with idiopathic facial paralysis, without a history of trauma, any evidence of a tumor on high-resolution computed tomographic imaging, or any otologic disease, and 33 healthy individuals as a control group were included in this study. Facial paralysis of the patient was evaluated with the House-Brackmann grading scale. Specific immunoglobulin G and M titers were determined for cytomegalovirus, rubella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serologic positivity for hepatitis B was found in 15 of 21 Bell's palsy patients, compared with 32.1% in the control group. The difference was statistically significant. There was no difference in the prevalence of serologic positivity for cytomegalovirus, hepatitis A, and rubella between the patient and control groups. In one Bell's palsy patient, serologic evidence of recent cytomegalovirus infection was indicated by changes in antibody titers between samples taken on presentation and on the 16th day. There was no serologic evidence of hepatitis C in either Bell's palsy patients or the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There seems to be an association between hepatitis B and idiopathic facial paralysis. In addition, cytomegalovirus might contribute to the development of Bell's palsy in some ceases with Bell's palsy. Further studies are required to confirm these data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Celal Bayal University, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Unlu
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Beril
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozbakkaloglu
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tunger
authors.forename: Suheyla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Surucuoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012409:Rubella / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors