Evaluation of smell and taste in patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis
- نوع فایل : کتاب
- زبان : انگلیسی
- مؤلف : James A. Fasunla · Walter Hundt · Jens Lutz · Frauke Fِrger · Klaus Thürmel · Silke Steinbach
- چاپ و سال / کشور: 2011
Description
Although a reduced olfactory/gustatory function aVects patients in all parts of life, this problem has not received much attention in Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG). The aim of this study was to assess the smell/taste function of WG patients. Demographic data of 16 WG patients (9 males, 7 females) were obtained. They all subjectively assessed their taste/smell function on visual analogue scale. Olfactory/gustatory functions of the patients were tested with ‘SniYn’ Sticks and ‘Taste’ strips, respectively. The results were then compared with those from sex and age-matched control group (n = 16) and normative data. WG patients subjectively assessed their olfactory (p = 0.03) and gustatory (p = 0.02) function to be lower than control group. All the olfactory scores (odour identiWcation, odour discrimination and threshold) in both genders were signiWcantly below the scores in the control group. WG patients were hyposmic. For taste (total taste score, as well as scores for the qualities sweet, sour, salty and bitter), WG patients did not signiWcantly diVer from controls and were normogeusic. However, the gustatory scores showed the tendency of reduction as compared to the control group. In conclusion, WG patients truly suVer from olfactory/taste dysfunction, but this is worse with olfaction. It is, therefore, imperative that physicians should make their patients to be aware of these sensory dysfunctions and educate them on methods to cope with it for better quality of life.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol DOI 10.1007/s00405-011-1691-y, Received: 14 April 2011 / Accepted: 18 June 2011
