Effects of systemic immunotherapy on olfactory function in allergic rhinitis patients

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Immunology
• Allergology

Background:

• Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects 20% of the global population, often leading to olfactory dysfunction.
• Current treatments for AR manage symptoms but do not offer a cure.
• Systemic immunotherapy (SIT) is the only potentially curative treatment for AR, but its impact on olfactory function requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess the effect of subcutaneous SIT on olfactory function in patients with allergic rhinitis.
• To analyze changes in smell test parameters before and after SIT treatment.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 12 allergic rhinitis patients undergoing subcutaneous SIT was studied.
• Olfactory function was evaluated using the 3-step "Sniffin' Sticks" test before and 18 months after SIT.
• Pre- and post-treatment data were compared for each patient.

Main Results:

• Patients showed increased average scores across smell test parameters post-treatment.
• A significant improvement was observed in the mean olfactory identification score (P < 0.05).
• No significant relationship was found between age, sex, smoking status, and changes in olfactory parameters.

Conclusions:

• Subcutaneous SIT demonstrates a positive effect on improving olfactory performance in allergic rhinitis patients.
• Larger-scale studies with extended follow-up are recommended to validate SIT as a treatment for olfactory disorders in AR.