Specific IgG and IgA antibodies to herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus in acute peripheral facial palsy patients.

The role of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) in acute peripheral facial palsy (APFP) was evaluated in 153 patients. The sera of patients were examined for IgG and IgA antibodies to HSV and VZV by the immunoperoxidase antibody-membrane antigen (IPAMA) technique. The prevalence of IgG and IgA seropositivity to HSV was significantly higher in the APFP patients than in the matched control group. No significant difference was found in the geometric mean titer (GMT) to HSV antibodies in the APFP patients compared to the matched control groups. The prevalence of IgA antibodies to VZV was significantly higher in the APFP patients group than in the matched control group. The GMT for VZV IgG antibodies was significantly higher in the APFP patients than in the matched control group. No significant difference was found in the GMT of VZV IgA antibodies. Eleven of 83 patients for whom paired sera were available had significantly increased or decreased IgG and IgA antibody titers to VZV on subsequent examination. Four of these patients did not show any evidence of zosterian eruption. These studies support the concept that VZV and HSV might have a role in the etiopathogenesis of APFP in some of the patients.