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Chemosensory function is decreased in rheumatoid arthritis

  • Rhinology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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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Funding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Ute Walliczek-Dworschak, Tran Khan, Antje Hähner & Thomas Hummel

  2. Klinik für Hals-Nasen und Ohrenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Marburg, Germany

    Ute Walliczek-Dworschak

  3. Outpatient Clinic for Rheumatological Disorders, Erlangen, Germany

    Jörg Wendler & Tran Khan

  4. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine III, TU, Dresden, Germany

    Tran Khan & Martin Aringer

Authors
  1. Ute Walliczek-Dworschak
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  2. Jörg Wendler
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  3. Tran Khan
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  4. Martin Aringer
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  5. Antje Hähner
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  6. Thomas Hummel
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Correspondence to Ute Walliczek-Dworschak.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interests regarding the content of this manuscript. No funding has been received. No financial disclosures.

Ethical approval

The study has obtained ethical approval by the ethical committee. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (TU Dresden; EK502112015) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Walliczek-Dworschak, U., Wendler, J., Khan, T. et al. Chemosensory function is decreased in rheumatoid arthritis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 1675–1680 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05874-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05874-3

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