Bell's palsy: Electrodiagnostics are not indicative of cerebrospinal fluidabnormalities

Electrodiagnostic testing (electromyography, electroneuronography, and blin k reflex) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination (cell count, immunoglob ulins, and antigen-specific intrathecal immunoglobulin G synthesis against herpes simplex virus, varicella tester virus, cytomegalovirus, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu latu) were performed in 56 patients with Bell's palsy. T he CSF was normal in 45 patients and abnormal in 11 patients. Acute borreli osis was the most common specific pathological CSF finding (4 of ii). Elect romyography revealed abolished volitional activity in 22% of patients with normal CSF and in 36% with pathological CSF Electroneuronographic tests wit h an amplitude decrease of more than 90% on the affected side or abolished responses were found in 20% of patients with normal CSF and in 18% with pat hological CSF Abolished orbicularis oculi reflexes were seen in 67% of pati ents with normal CSF and in 82% with pathological CSF Concerning electrodia gnostic testing, no statistically significant difference between patients w ith normal and abnormal CSF was found, so we conclude that electrodiagnosti c testing has no indicative value for abnormal CSF in Bell's palsy.