Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Recurrent Facial Nerve Palsy and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Abstract

Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome (MRS) is a rare disease characterized by persistent or recurrent orofacial oedema, relapsing peripheral facial paralysis, and furrowed tongue. Pathologically, granulomatosis is responsible for oedema of face, labia, oral cavity, and facial nerve. We present a patient with MRS admitted to our hospital with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). 45-year-old woman was admitted to an emergency department with dyspnea and swelling on her hands and face. She was intubated because of ARDS and accepted to intensive care unit (ICU). After weaning from ventilatory support, peripheral facial paralysis was diagnosed and steroid treatment was added to her therapy. On dermatologic examination, oedema on her face, pustular lesions on her skin, and fissure on her tongue were detected. The patient informed us about her recurrent and spontaneous facial paralysis in previous years. According to her history and clinical findings, MRS was diagnosed.

Compressive Neuropathy of the Facial Nerve Presenting as Bell's Palsy in a Pediatric Patient on High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation

“…There is a report of a 45-year-old woman with Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome who developed respiratory failure with ARDS. In this instance, the cause of facial paralysis was related to an underlying syndrome [15]. This syndrome has also been reported in children [16][17].…”

Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome: a case report of a rare disease

“…Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) or Cheilitis granulomatosa is a rare granulomatous disease, which presents as orofacial swelling, facial palsy and fissured tongue [1]. These symptoms may occur simultaneously or, more frequently, with an oligosymptomatic or monosymptomatic pattern [2].…”