Olfactory and gustatory function in patients with multiple sclerosis. 2010

Franca Fleiner, and Sarah Bettina Dahlslett, and Felix Schmidt, and Lutz Harms, and Oender Goektas
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Berlin, Germany. franca.fleiner@charite.de

BACKGROUND The olfactory function (OF) and gustatory function in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be limited. METHODS We performed the testing of orthonasal (Threshold Discrimination Identification [TDI] score with Sniffin' Sticks) and retronasal (Taste Powder) OF and gustatory function (Taste Strips; Burghart, Wedel, Germany) in patients diagnosed with MS and healthy controls matching in age, sex, and smoking habits. RESULTS Eight of 16 MS patients (50%) displayed hyposmia (TDI score, 28.75 ± 1.28; p = 0.06); the identification subtest significantly was restricted (12.63 ± 1.67; p = 0.001). Four of 16 MS patients (25%) had limited retronasal OF with a Taste Powder score of 4.5 ± 1.29. The gustatory function in 19% of MS patients was significantly limited (Taste Strip score, 5.33 ± 2.52; p = 0.02). Patients who estimated their ability to smell as diminished performed more poorly on retronasal OF testing (r =0.657; p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the incidence of olfactory disorder in MS patients that has been reported in the literature. Interestingly, a significant correlation between orthonasal and retronasal OF testing was not shown. A higher incidence of gustatory dysfunction was shown and might serve as another potential marker for this disease.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009103 Multiple Sclerosis An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903) MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000370 Ageusia Complete or severe loss of the subjective sense of taste, frequently accompanied by OLFACTION DISORDERS. Ageusia, Hysterical,Hypogeusia,Loss of Taste,Taste-Blindness,Ageusias, Hysterical,Hypogeusias,Hysterical Ageusia,Hysterical Ageusias,Taste Blindness,Taste Loss
D000857 Olfaction Disorders Impaired ability to smell. This may be caused by OLFACTORY NERVE DISEASES; PARANASAL SINUS DISEASES; viral RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS; CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA; SMOKING; and other conditions. Impaired Olfaction,Olfactory Impairment,Paraosmia,Parosmia,Phantosmia,Smell Disorders,Smell Dysfunction,Cacosmia,Dysosmia,Cacosmias,Dysfunction, Smell,Dysosmias,Impaired Olfactions,Impairment, Olfactory,Olfaction Disorder,Olfaction, Impaired,Olfactions, Impaired,Paraosmias,Parosmias,Phantosmias,Smell Disorder
D012903 Smell The ability to detect scents or odors, such as the function of OLFACTORY RECEPTOR NEURONS. Olfaction,Sense of Smell,Smell Sense
D013649 Taste The ability to detect chemicals through gustatory receptors in the mouth, including those on the TONGUE; the PALATE; the PHARYNX; and the EPIGLOTTIS. Gustation,Taste Sense,Gustations,Sense, Taste,Senses, Taste,Taste Senses,Tastes

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