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Updated: Dec 5, 2025
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Whole Mount Labeling of Cilia in the Main Olfactory System of Mice
Published on: December 27, 2014
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Olfactory Function Is Impaired in Patients with Mastocytosis
Carla Masala1, Davide Firinu2, Raffaella Piras1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Physiology Section, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. in Practice
|October 15, 2020
Summary
Olfactory function is impaired in mastocytosis patients, with decreased odor detection, discrimination, and identification. This impairment correlates negatively with serum tryptase levels, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Hematology
Background:
- Mastocytosis is characterized by abnormal mast cell accumulation.
- Olfactory function data in mastocytosis patients is currently unavailable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess olfactory function (odor threshold, discrimination, identification) in mastocytosis patients compared to healthy controls.
- To correlate olfactory function with mastocytosis clinical symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-one participants (41 mastocytosis patients, 40 healthy controls) were enrolled.
- Olfactory function was evaluated using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test.
- Tests included odor detection threshold (OT), odor discrimination (OD), and odor identification (OI).
Main Results:
- Mastocytosis patients exhibited significantly reduced total olfactory function (Threshold-Discrimination-Identification [TDI] score), OT, OD, and OI compared to controls.
- A negative correlation was found between TDI score and serum tryptase concentration.
- No correlation was observed between disease duration and olfactory function measures.
Conclusions:
- Olfactory function is impaired in mastocytosis patients.
- A negative correlation exists between TDI score and serum tryptase levels.
- Olfactory dysfunction is a potential clinical manifestation contributing to the disease burden.
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