Peripheral facial paralysis and HIV infection: report of four African cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Four cases of infranuclear facial palsy associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus in young heterosexual African patients are reported. Two cases were healthy HIV carriers, one patient manifested AIDS-related complex, and one case fulfilled the CDC criteria for AIDS. Two patients had a typical Bell's palsy, one presented with manifest cephalic Herpes zoster infection and one, who suffered from facial diplegia, could be considered to have a cephalic form of Guillain-Barré syndrome. A review of the literature confirmed that peripheral facial palsy can occur at any stage of HIV infection and in various clinical contexts. In stages I and II of the HIV infection, patients may develop either Bell's palsy or Guillain-Barré syndrome. In stages III and IV, when the cellular immunity has begun to decline, Herpes zoster-related facial paralysis, seventh cranial nerve involvement secondary to meningeal lymphomatosis, and peripheral facial paralysis as one aspect of widespread chronic peripheral neuropathy may also occur.