Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome causes facial muscle paralysis and swelling, particularly in the upper lip, and can also result in a crinkled tongue. It is associated with autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s and sarcoidosis, and while there is no cure, symptoms can be controlled with medication and other treatments. The cause of the syndrome is unknown, but genetics may play a role.
Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome is a medical condition that has no known cause. This disease affects the nervous system and causes paralysis of the muscles in the face, among other symptoms. While genetics may play a role in the condition, it often occurs in sufferers of Crohn’s disease or sarcoidosis.
People who have Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome typically experience the first problems as children or adolescents. The facial muscles become paralyzed and swelling occurs in the facial tissue, especially the upper lip. The tongue may become crinkled and develop folds.
“Scrotal tongue” is another term for this crinkled tongue condition. If the surface of the tongue is deeply indented, the acid or spices in the food could give the tongue a burning sensation. With extreme cases having very deep ridges, an infection can occur or food can get stuck. As a result, the person’s breath may smell bad.
Usually, these symptoms resolve on their own, but another attack may occur. Repeated swelling in new attacks may become permanent. Over time, the swelling can also get worse and become more noticeable. The affected lip may develop ridges and an unusual brownish discoloration and may feel hard to the touch.
Although Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome is not curable, the symptoms of the disease can be controlled using medications. Facial swelling can be improved with steroids and other medications that reduce inflammation. Treatments such as tissue massage or electrotherapy can also benefit the facial appearance. Surgery on affected nerves and inflamed tissue is possible — and sometimes prescribed — but the benefits of this surgery hadn’t been demonstrated as of 2011.
This syndrome is associated with the presence of other diseases. These diseases are autoimmune, which means they are caused by the body attacking its own cells. Crohn’s disease is one such condition. It is a digestive disorder in which the lining of the intestines is inflamed, problems occur in stool production, and various problems such as inflammation of the liver or even the eyes can occur.
Sarcoidosis is another autoimmune condition in which various parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes or lungs, become swollen. Both of these conditions could show Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome as part of the symptoms. The reasons behind the symptoms of Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome were unknown as of 2011. Particular types of genes could, however, determine who develops Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome and who doesn’t.
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