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[Recurrent facial palsy revealing Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection]
M Leclercq1, G Sauvêtre1, H Levesque1
1Département de médecine interne, CHU de Rouen, 1, rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen cedex, France.
Introduction:
Neurological involvement of Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) mainly results in myelopathy (tropical spastic paraparesis). However, cranial nerve impairment, including facial nerve damage, is rare in patients with HTLV-1 infection.
Observation:
We report the case of a patient, originally from Caribbean islands, who developed recurrent bilateral facial palsy (six recurrences during the 7-year follow-up). Both blood and cerebrospinal fluid serologies were positive for HTLV-1. The diagnosis of recurring bilateral facial palsy revealing HTLV-1 infection was made.
Conclusion:
Our case report underscores that HTLV-1 infection should be considered in patients, coming from endemic areas (Caribbean islands, South America, Japan and Africa), who exhibit recurrent bilateral facial palsy. Our data therefore indicate that HTLV-1 serology should be routinely performed in these patients.
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