Viral Serologic Test in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Acute Peripheral Facial Paralysis: Is It Always Necessary? / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and acute peripheral facial paralysis (APFP) are common otologic diseases related to viral infections. In this study, we investigated the clinical necessity of viral serologic tests in the diagnosis of SSNHL and APFP. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was carried out for 348 patients with SSNHL, 121 patients of Bell's palsy (BP) and 37 patients of Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS). The serologic tests for IgM and IgG titers of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed within 10 days after onset in all patients. Clinical manifestations, abnormalities on MRI and prognosis were compared in relation to the results of viral serologic tests. Mean duration between the onset and the serologic tests was 4.6+/-2.9 days. The prognosis was determined using pure tone audiometry and House-Brackmann grading system after 6 months. RESULTS: The positivity of VZV IgM and titer of VZV IgG in RHS were significantly higher than those in the others (p.05). CONCLUSION: The serologic tests for IgM and IgG titers of HSV and VZV performed once in the acute stage are unlikely to provide additional information for the prognosis of SSNHL or APFP, but they might be helpful in the differential diagnosis process of APFP.