Peripheral facial paralysis in a patient infected with HTLV-1 virus. 2 case reports
Deligny, C.; Cabre, P.; Thévenot, C.; Dubreuil, F.; Arfi, S.
Presse Medicale 31(37 Pt 1): 1746-1747
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0755-4982 PMID: 12489318 Document Number: 551265
Facial nerve palsy is a frequent situation of varying etiology and the former concept of frozen facial nerves is progressively being abandoned. The HTLV-1 virus, endemic to some tropical areas, is one of the most recent causes discovered. We present two HTLV-1 seropositive patients of Caribbean origin who developed facial palsy and several complications related to this retrovirus. When confronted with facial palsy, the presence of risk factors for HTLV-1 infection (particularly when native in high seroprevalence areas) must lead to serological examinations in the search for this retrovirus.