Peripheral facial palsy and coincidental cytomegalovirus infection or reactivation.

Following the fortuitous demonstration of anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM antibodies in serum samples from 2 patients with acute peripheral facial palsy (APFP), a systematic study was initiated which provided serological evidence of a coincidental CMV multiplication in 72% of 65 consecutive cases with APFP. Transmission electron microscopy has revealed Herpetoviridae-like virus particles in 56% of urine samples studied. A reactivation of latent CMV at the time of palsy onset is considered the most probable explanation of these findings.