title: [Recurrent facial palsy revealing Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Département de médecine interne, CHU de Rouen, 1, rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen cedex, France.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Leclercq
authors: Département de médecine interne, CHU de Rouen, 1, rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen cedex, France.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Sauvêtre
authors: Département de médecine interne, CHU de Rouen, 1, rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen cedex, France.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Levesque
authors: Département de médecine interne, CHU de Rouen, 1, rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen cedex, France. Electronic address: isabelle.marie@chu-rouen.fr.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Marie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012008:Recurrence; D014900:West Indies
keywords: Atteinte neurologique; Facial diplegia; Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type 1; Neurologic impairment; Paralysie faciale