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

Drummond, P.D. (1995) Lacrimation induced by thermal stress in patients with a facial nerve lesion. Neurology, 45 (6). pp. 1112-1114.

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.