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Olfactory Dysfunction in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Treated With Disease-Modifying

Marcin Wnuk1,2, Leszek Drabik3,4, Monika Marona1,2

  • 1Department of Neurology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.

Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal
|November 25, 2020
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Olfactory dysfunction is nearly twice as common in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients compared to controls. This dysfunction was found to correlate with fatigue in patients taking oral disease-modifying therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory Research

Background:

  • Olfactory dysfunction is more prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients than controls.
  • Previous olfactory assessments were time-consuming.
  • Correlation between olfactory deficit and neurological impairment in MS was previously noted.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare olfactory function in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients versus controls using a rapid screening tool.
  • To investigate the association between olfactory function and clinical/radiological features in RRMS.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Sniffin' Sticks Identification Test (SSIT) for olfactory screening in 30 RRMS patients and 30 controls.
  • Collected data on relapses, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), brain MRI, thalamic volume, and third ventricle width.
  • Assessed cognition (Symbol Digit Modalities Test - SDMT) and fatigue (Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions - FSMC) 24 months post-olfactory testing.

Main Results:

  • RRMS patients exhibited a significantly higher risk of hyposmia (66.7%) compared to controls (36.7%).
  • No significant correlation was found between olfactory scores and inflammatory or neurodegenerative MS markers.
  • Olfactory dysfunction correlated with fatigue (FSMC cognitive subscale) in RRMS patients on oral medications.

Conclusions:

  • Olfactory dysfunction is nearly twice as common in RRMS patients compared to healthy controls.
  • Olfactory dysfunction is linked to fatigue in RRMS patients treated with oral therapies like dimethyl fumarate or fingolimod.
Keywords:
cognitionfatiguehyposmiamultiple sclerosisolfactory dysfunction

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