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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology
Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 6/2020

01-06-2020 | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Rhinology

Chemosensory function is decreased in rheumatoid arthritis

Authors: Ute Walliczek-Dworschak, Jörg Wendler, Tran Khan, Martin Aringer, Antje Hähner, Thomas Hummel

Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology | Issue 6/2020

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Abstract

Purpose

Research indicates that rheumatic disorders are accompanied by decreased chemosensory function. The present study aimed to specifically evaluate this issue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

212 RA patients (43 men, 169 women, mean age 59 ± 13.3 years), and 30 healthy controls (10 men, 20 women, mean age 40 ± 15.3 years), were included in this study. Chemosensory measurements consisted of olfactory testing using the “Sniffin’ Sticks” test battery (with odor thresholds, odor discrimination and odor identification; OT, OD, OI) and gustatory testing on a suprathreshold and a quasi-threshold level using “taste sprays” and “taste strips”, respectively. In addition, inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein) and RA autoantibodies (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides, RA factors) were evaluated.

Results

Olfactory measurements showed 4% of the RA patients functionally anosmic and 40% hyposmic. RA patients scored significantly lower in suprathreshold olfactory tests (OD, OI) compared to controls (OI: 12.5 ± 2.5 vs. 14.1 ± 1.3; OD: 11.3 ± 2.7 vs. 12.9 ± 1.7). In addition, RA patient had decreased taste function compared to healthy individuals (10.4 ± 2.6 vs. 11.7 ± 1.7). Chemosensory function did not correlate with parameters related to the severity of disease.

Conclusion

Chemosensory function (taste, OD and OI) appears to be decreased in RA patients. In contrast, OT was not affected. Changes in chemosensory function seem to be independent of disease parameters such as duration of disease or disease activity.
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Metadata
Title
Chemosensory function is decreased in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors
Ute Walliczek-Dworschak
Jörg Wendler
Tran Khan
Martin Aringer
Antje Hähner
Thomas Hummel
Publication date
01-06-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 0937-4477
Electronic ISSN: 1434-4726
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05874-3

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