Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome successfully treated with adalimumab

Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare syndrome of facial nerve palsy, facial edema, and lingua plicata that can be difficult to treat. We observed a patient with MRS of 4 years' duration that was unsuccessfully treated with multiple therapies. After a variety of diagnoses were considered at outside institutions, including Bell palsy, we diagnosed the patient with MRS based on clinical presentation of the classic triad. Treatment with adalimumab, a tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) antibody, showed improvement and relapse-free progress. Further research is needed regarding the role of TNF-α inhibitors in managing this rare condition.