Herpes Simplex Virus and Bell Palsy
Authors: J. Richard Baringer
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1996)

Editorials1 January 1996Herpes Simplex Virus and Bell PalsyJ. Richard Baringer, MDJ. Richard Baringer, MDUniversity of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City, UT 84132Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-124-1_Part_1-199601010-00010 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Infectious causes of acute facial nerve paralysis are numerous. Thus, involvement of the seventh nerve in its peripheral portion is well recognized as a complication of pyogenic meningitis, syphilis, and Lyme disease. In these conditions, the inflammatory process within the subarachnoid space is thought to involve the facial nerve, causing an acute inflammatory reaction and paralysis of the muscles that the facial nerve innervates.The most clearly defined viral cause of acute inflammatory paralysis of muscles innervated by the facial nerve is varicella-zoster virus infection; this condition is known as the Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. In this condition, acute facial paralysis is ...References1. Morgan M, Nathwani D. Facial palsy and infection: the unfolding story. Clin Infect Dis. 1992; 14:263-71. Google Scholar2. McCormick DP. Herpes-simplex virus as cause of Bell's palsy. Lancet. 1972; 1:937-9. Google Scholar3. Baringer JR, Swoveland P. Recovery of herpes-simplex virus from human trigeminal ganglions. N Engl J Med. 1973; 288:648-50. Google Scholar4. Takasu T, Furuta Y, Sato KC, Fukuda S, Inuyama Y, Nagashima K. Detection of latent herpes simplex virus DNA and RNA in human geniculate ganglia by the polymerase chain reaction. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh). 1992; 112:1004-11. Google Scholar5. Furuta Y, Takasu T, Sato KC, Fukuda S, Inuyama Y, Nagashima K. Latent herpes simplex virus type 1 in human geniculate ganglia. Acta Neuropathol (Berl). 1992; 84:39-44. Google Scholar6. Spruance SL. Bell palsy and herpes simplex virus [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 1994; 120:1045-6. Google Scholar7. Schwaber MK, Larson TC, Zealear DL, Creasy J. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in Bell's palsy. Laryngoscope. 1990; 100:1264-9. Google Scholar8. Adour KK, Bell DN, Hilsinger RL Jr. Herpes simplex virus in idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell palsy). JAMA. 1975; 233:527-30. Google Scholar9. Mulkens PS, Bleeker JD, Schroder FP. Acute facial paralysis: a virological study. Clin Otolaryngol. 1980; 5:303-10. Google Scholar10. Vahlne A, Edstrom S, Arstila P, Beran M, Ejnell H, Nylen O, et al. Bell's palsy and herpes simplex virus. Arch Otolaryngol. 1981; 107:79-81. Google Scholar11. Proctor B, Corgill DA, Proud G. The pathology of Bell's palsy. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. 1975; 82:70-80. Google Scholar12. Liston SL, Kleid MS. Histopathology of Bell's palsy. Laryngoscope. 1989; 99:23-6. Google Scholar13. Santos DQ, Adour KK. Bilateral facial paralysis related to sexually transmitted herpes simplex: clinical course and MRI findings. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993; 108:298-303. Google Scholar14. Burgess RC, Michaels L, Bale JF Jr, Smith RJ. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of herpes simplex viral DNA from the geniculate ganglion of a patient with Bell's palsy. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1994; 103:775-9. Google Scholar15. Murakami S, Mizobuchi M, Nakashiro Y, Doi T, Hato N, Yanagihara N. Bell palsy and herpes simplex virus: identification of viral DNA in endoneurial fluid and muscle. Ann Intern Med. 1996; 124:27-30. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City, UT 84132Grant Support: In part by the Veterans Affairs Medical Research Service.Corresponding Author: J. Richard Baringer, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132. 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