Antibodies against herpes simplex virus type 1 subunit antigens in patients with trigeminal neuralgia and controls.

Serum IgG antibody levels against herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 subunit (capsid, envelope, and excreted) antigens detected with radioimmunoassay were compared in 25 patients with trigeminal neuralgia and their age- and sex-matched controls. No significant differences were found between the patients and controls, either in the distribution of the antibody titers or in the mean titers against any of the subunit antigens tested. In 6 patients HSV antibody titers were tested before and after trigeminal root section; no significant changes were observed.