[Defect of taste in a patient with hypothyroidism]

A 74-year-old male presented with a total loss of taste of ten weeks' duration. He could not recognize both saturated sugar and salt solutions but his acuity for smell was normal. He also had a slight hoarseness, mild dysarthria and hyporeflexia of all extremities. Laboratory data revealed marked hypothyroidism and positive tests for antithyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibodies. Shortly after the institution of thyroxine replacement, subjective response in taste acuity was seen. Almost complete recovery of taste followed after a month of incremental dose of thyroxine. The case indicates that thyroid hormones play a significant role in taste acuity. Hypothyroidism should be considered as one of the possible causes in taste defect.