Acupuncture in Corticosteroid-Resistant Pediatric Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome: A Case Report

Background: Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare neuromucocutaneous granulomatous disorder characterized by recurrent peripheral facial paralysis (PFP), painless non-decurrent orofacial edema, and fissured tongue. Despite reports suggesting the potential effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing the course of PFP and its sequelae, there is limited evidence in children. This report, as the first documented case of acupuncture use in pediatric MRS, underscores the scarcity of investigations in the pediatric age group and highlights the efficacy of acupuncture in corticosteroid (CS)-resistant cases. Case: A 10-year-old girl with left-sided PFP and orofacial edema, having experienced two episodes with a 45-day interval. While the first episode, presenting as right-sided PFP, resolved with CS treatment in 15 days, the second left-sided episode resisted CS. Acupuncture treatment was performed three times a week for a period of 3 weeks. The patient continued only physical therapy exercises at home with acupuncture treatment. Results: Orofacial edema and PFP completely resolved. No recurrent attacks were observed in the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: Acupuncture can be considered as a treatment option in patients diagnosed with MRS.