Detection of Olfactory Dysfunction Using Olfactory Event Related Potentials in Young Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

作者:Caminiti Fabrizia*; De Salvo Simona; De Cola Maria Cristina; Russo Margherita; Bramanti Placido; Marino Silvia; Ciurleo Rosella
来源:PLos One, 2014, 9(7): e103151.
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0103151

摘要

Background: Several studies reported olfactory dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis. The estimate of the incidence of olfactory deficits in multiple sclerosis is uncertain; this may arise from different testing methods that may be influenced by patients%26apos; response bias and clinical, demographic and cognitive features. %26lt;br%26gt;Aims: To evaluate objectively the olfactory function using Olfactory Event Related Potentials. %26lt;br%26gt;Materials and Methods: We tested the olfactory function of 30 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (mean age of 36.03 +/- 6.96 years) and of 30 age, sex and smoking-habit matched healthy controls by using olfactory potentials. A selective and controlled stimulation of the olfactory system to elicit the olfactory event related potentials was achieved by a computer-controlled olfactometer linked directly with electroencephalograph. Relationships between olfactory potential results and patients%26apos; clinical characteristics, such as gender, disability status score, disease-modifying therapy, and disease duration, were evaluated. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: Seven of 30 patients did not show olfactory event related potentials. Sixteen of remaining 23 patients had a mean value of amplitude significantly lower than control group (p%26lt;0.01). The presence/absence of olfactory event related potentials was associated with dichotomous expanded disability status scale (p = 0.0433), as well as inversely correlated with the disease duration (r = -0.3641, p = 0.0479). %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusion: Unbiased olfactory dysfunction of different severity found in multiple sclerosis patients suggests an organic impairment which could be related to neuroinflammatory and/or neurodegenerative processes of olfactory networks, supporting the recent findings on neurophysiopathology of disease.

  • 出版日期2014-7-21