Heerfordt syndrome with unilateral facial nerve palsy: a rare presentation of sarcoidosis.
BACKGROUND
Heerfordt syndrome is rare and is characterized by fever, uveitis, parotid gland enlargement, and facial nerve palsy. We hereby present a case of Heerfordt syndrome with unilateral facial nerve palsy as a presentation of sarcoidosis.


METHODS
A 29-year-old male patient from Sri Lanka presented with eye redness OU, blurred vision OD, fever, headache, night sweat, fatigue, and weight loss (5 kg over 1 month). Examination revealed mild anterior uveitis OU, mild vitritis OD, fundus whitish lesions OU, left otalgia, taste disorders, bilateral parotid gland enlargement, and left facial nerve palsy. Work-up for infection or tumour was negative. Chest computed tomography and transbronchial lymph node biopsy set the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.


RESULTS
The patient recovered completely within 2 months under therapy with prednisone and azathioprine. One year after onset of treatment, no recurrence was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Heerfordt syndrome is a rare manifestation of neurosarcoidosis and has to be included in the differential diagnosis of facial nerve palsy.
Petropoulos
I K
IK
Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Zuber
J-P
JP
Guex-Crosier
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014608:Uveoparotid Fever / Q000175:diagnosis*