Bilateral facial palsy caused by HIV infection: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Objective: Bilateral facial palsy (BFP) has been identified as a possible neurological complication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but only a limited number of cases have been reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to deepen our understanding of the etiology of BFP. Case report: We report the case of a 46-year-old married bisexual man with BFP associated with HIV infection. The patient underwent serological testing for HIV and was positive. In the absence of any other evidence of underlying systemic disease, facial palsy is thought to be secondary to HIV infection. After antiretroviral therapy, the patient recovered completely from facial palsy within 3 months. Results: HIV infection often involves BFP. The pathophysiology of this clinical presentation is thought to be related to the immune response to the systemic transmission of the virus. Conclusions: Most patients with BFP have underlying systemic causes, particularly autoimmune diseases. The exclusion of HIV infection in patients with BFP is essential for the early diagnosis and management of HIV.