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Lacrimation induced by thermal stress in patients with a facial nerve lesion
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Lacrimation induced by thermal stress in patients with a facial nerve lesion

P.D. Drummond
Neurology, Vol.45(6), pp.1112-1114
1995
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Abstract

I measured facial sweating, flushing, and lacrimation during body heating in 10 patients with a facial nerve lesion compromising parasympathetic outflow. During heating, moisture accumulated in the symptomatic eye of patients with facial nerve palsy, particularly in patients with a long- standing lesion. Sweating and flushing in the forehead were symmetrical. These findings suggest that sympathetic neural discharge during heat stress influences lacrimation in the symptomatic eye of patients with a long- standing facial nerve lesion. Cross-innervation of lacrimal neurons by sympathetic fibers passing through the sphenopalatine ganglion or occupation of degenerated parasympathetic pathways by sympathetic fibers in the periphery could mediate this response.

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