[Pre-eclampsia and facial paralysis]

Abstract

We describe here the case of a patient affected with pre-eclampsia and who had idiopathic facial palsy and HELLP syndrome during the puerperium. It developed favourably with a treatment associated with an antihypertensive medicine, corticoid therapy and ophtalmological care. There is an association between pre-eclampsia and idiopathic facial palsy during pregnancy. This can be explained by identical physiopathological mechanisms. Facial palsy generally appears in the course of the third trimester of pregnancy or during the early puerperium. The prognosis is usually good and does not seem to be influenced by pregnancy. When idiopathic facial palsy appears during pregnancy, evidence of pre-eclampsia must be looked for.