Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome With Hashimoto Thyroiditis in a 9-Year-Old Girl: An Autoimmune Disorder

• Published in: Pediatric neurology 2014-05, Vol.50 (5), p.503-506
• Main Authors: Lee, Yun-Jin, MD, PhD, Cheon, Chong Kun, MD, PhD, Yeon, Gyu Min, MD, Kim, Young Mi, MD, PhD, Nam, Sang Ook, MD, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Autoimmune Diseases - blood; Autoimmune Diseases - drug therapy; Autoimmune Diseases - pathology; Child; Face - pathology; facial paralysis; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hashimoto disease; Hashimoto Disease - blood; Hashimoto Disease - complications; Hashimoto Disease - drug therapy; Hashimoto Disease - pathology; Humans; Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome - blood; Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome - complications; Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome - drug therapy; Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome - pathology; Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome; Neurology; Pediatrics; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Tongue - pathology; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0887-8994; 1873-5150
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2014.01.010

Abstract Background Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare disorder of unknown cause. The classical triad of MRS is orofacial edema, recurrent facial paralysis, and a fissured tongue. Patient We present a 9-year-old girl with a recurrent peripheral facial paralysis. She experienced the first episode of a peripheral facial paralysis on the same side without orofacial swelling and lingua plicata 1 year ago. She was diagnosed with Hashimoto thyroiditis 9 months earlier, as confirmed by an endocrinologic investigation. Results While the patient was hospitalized with recurrent facial paralysis, we found that serum levels of free thyroxine (1.3 ng/dL) and thyrotropin (0.4 uIU/mL) were within normal range, but the level of antithyroperoxidase antibodies (772.0 IU/mL) was very increased. She had been taking an oral prednisolone orally for 2 weeks. At the 1-month follow-up, the patient’s symptoms had completely disappeared. Discussion The possible correlation between MRS and autoimmune disorders has been documented in only one report, which described an adult with autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto thyroiditis) and MRS. We suggest that the co-occurrence of MRS and Hashimoto thyroiditis is not coincidental but linked to autoimmunity.