Cause and Genetic Factors
- Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is not to be confused with Rosenthal syndrome (hemophilia C).
- The syndrome has a genetic causation and is associated with twins and family members.
Diagnosis
- Diagnosis of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is mainly based on clinical features.
- Biopsy has been useful in diagnosing the syndrome and differentiating it from other types of the disease.
Treatment
- Symptomatic treatment for Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids.
- Antibiotics and immunosuppressants may also be used in treatment.
- Surgery may be necessary to relieve pressure on facial nerves.
- Additional treatments like massage and electrical stimulation may be prescribed.
Prognosis and Follow-up Care
- Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome may recur intermittently and become a chronic disorder.
- Follow-up care should include monitoring for the development of Crohn's disease or sarcoidosis.
Eponym and Research
- The syndrome is named after Ernst Melkersson and Curt Rosenthal.
- The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) supports research on neurological disorders, including Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, with the aim of increasing knowledge and finding ways to treat, prevent, and cure them.
Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by recurring facial paralysis, swelling of the face and lips (usually the upper lip: cheilitis granulomatosis) and the development of folds and furrows in the tongue (fissured tongue). Onset is in childhood or early adolescence. After recurrent attacks (ranging from days to years in between), swelling may persist and increase, eventually becoming permanent. The lip may become hard, cracked, and fissured with a reddish-brown discoloration. The cause of Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome is unknown, but there may be a genetic predisposition. It has been noted to be especially prevalent among certain ethnic groups in Bolivia. It can be symptomatic of Crohn's disease or sarcoidosis.[citation needed] Approximately 400 cases have been reported worldwide.
| Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Other names | MRO, Miescher–Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome |
 | |
| This condition is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. | |
| Specialty | Neurology  |
