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The effect of intra-nasal tetra sodium pyrophosphate on decreasing elevated nasal calcium and improving olfactory
Mohamed H Abdelazim1, Ahmed H Abdelazim2, Waleed Moneir3
1Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, 34518, Egypt.
Background:
Olfactory dysfunction is recognized as a symptom of COVID-19. Reports revealed the nasal calcium increase has adverse effects on olfactory function. Tetra sodium pyrophosphate, a chelating agent, can bind calcium and help improve olfaction.
Methods:
Sixty-four patients with olfactory dysfunction persisting for more than 90 days after COVID-19 were recruited. Participants were divided into 2 groups that received either 0.9% sodium chloride or 1% tetra sodium pyrophosphate for topical application. Olfactory function was tested with the Sniffin' Sticks test before treatment and 1 month later. In addition, nasal calcium was determined with an ion-selective electrode.
Results:
After topical application of tetra sodium pyrophosphate compared to sodium chloride, improvement from anosmia to hyposmia with decrease in calcium level was demonstrated. As for the results of tetra-sodium pyrophosphate, 81% showed improved olfactory function and 19% did not exhibit olfaction improvement.
Conclusions:
Intranasal application of tetra sodium pyrophosphate may be associated with improvement in olfactory function after COVID -19 infection. Trial registration Ethical Committee of Damietta Faculty of Medicine approved this study on January 2021 (approval number, IRB 00012367-21-03-010).
