[Peripheral facial paralysis in a patient infected with HTLV-1 virus. 2 case reports].
BACKGROUND
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.


METHODS
We present two HTLV-1 seropositive patients of Caribbean origin who developed facial palsy and several complications related to this retrovirus.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Deligny
Christophe
C
Service de médecine interne CHU Fort-de-France BP 632 Martinique 97261. c.deligny@wanadoo.fr
Cabre
Philippe
P
Thévenot
Corinne
C
Dubreuil
Fabienne
F
Arfi
Serge
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008395:Martinique; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis*