Abstract
Objectives:
(1) Describe the clinical caracteristics of postviral anosmia, comparing with anosmia related to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). (2) Analyze its response to corticosteroid treatment.
Methods:
A retrospective study was performed on 66 patients with olfactory loss. Olfactory function was assessed at baseline using the Connecticut Chemosensorial Clinical Research Center test. Clinical records were reviewed to discharge CRS, post-traumatic and other certain etiologies. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were reviewed. Topical, oral corticosteroids, or both were used on postviral cases for at least 6 months.
Results:
Patients were evaluated after 6 and 12 months of follow-up. The mean age at diagnosis was 53.8 (standard deviation 12.92). There were 74.2% females (49/66) and 25.8% males. The most frequent etiology was postviral anosmia, 51.5% of cases (34/66). At the time of diagnosis, the mean combined olfactometry (threshold test + identification test/2) was 2.75 (standard deviation 2.36). After 12 months, the mean was 4.70 (standard deviation 3.21), a significant improvement compared to baseline. No significant differences between the improvement obtained with topical corticosteroid therapy and/or oral were found. No differences were found comparing to treatment response of anosmia related to CRS.
Conclusions:
Postviral anosmia occurs most often in women. Olfactory recovery is uncommon, and topical or systemic corticosteroids were similarly ineffective.
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