Rapid strip assay for detection of anti-herpes simplex virus antibodies: Application to prediction of varicella-zoster virus reactivation in patientswith acute peripheral facial palsy

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation causes acute peripheral facial pa lsy in the majority (88%) of patients who lack anti-herpes simplex virus (H SV) antibodies, suggesting that an absence of anti-HSV antibodies is a reli able serological marker for the diagnosis of VZV reactivation in patients w ho are diagnosed initially as idiopathic peripheral facial palsy (Bell's pa lsy) [Furuta et al., 2000] Clinical Infectious Diseases]. A simple and rapi d immunoassay for detection of anti-HSV antibodies based on HSV type 1 glyc oprotein D was developed by modifying the conventional Western blot techniq ue. The assay was evaluated by comparing the results with those of conventi onal Western blot. In total, 100 sera obtained from patients with acute per ipheral facial palsy were tested and judged blindly by two investigators. T wenty-four of 26 HSV-seronegative sera were obtained from patients with VZV reactivation (Ramsay Hunt syndrome or tester sine herpete). The sensitivit y of the as say was over 95% and the specificity was 100%. The two investig ators agreed on the diagnosis in 99 of the 100 sera. These results indicate that the rapid strip assay is applicable to prediction of VZV reactivation in patients diagnosed clinically with Bell's palsy before tester lesions a ppear or PCR using saliva samples indicates VZV reactivation. J. Med. Virol . 62:37-41, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.