[Evaluations of olfactory function for myasthenia gravis patients]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Otolaryngology
• Clinical Neuroscience

Background:

• Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder primarily affecting neuromuscular junctions.
• Olfactory dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a potential non-motor symptom in various neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate olfactory function in patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.
• To determine the correlation between olfactory deficits and clinical characteristics in MG patients.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 61 myasthenia gravis patients and 32 healthy controls underwent olfactory testing using the T&T olfactometer.
• Clinical data, including disease duration, severity scores (QMG, ADL), and medication details, were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Myasthenia gravis patients demonstrated significantly poorer olfactory identification thresholds compared to healthy controls (P<0.01).
• Olfactory test scores positively correlated with disease duration (r=0.348, P=0.006), QMG scores (r=0.393, P=0.025), ADL scores (r=0.421, P=0.01), and pyridostigmine dosing time (r=0.295, P=0.025).
• No significant correlation was found between olfactory function and the dosage of prednisone or immunodepressants.

Conclusions:

• Myasthenia gravis is associated with impaired olfactory sensation.
• The findings highlight the potential involvement of the non-motor system in MG, warranting attention from neurologists.