Olfactory Dysfunction in Different Subtypes of Multiple Sclerosis and in Neuromyelitis Optica (P07.065)

Abstract

Objective: The olfactory function of patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS), relapsing remitting MS (RRMS), optic neuritis (ON) and patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) was investigated. Background Some studies reported about olfactory dysfunction in MS patients. Recently our study group could find out an inverse correlation between the olfactory bulb and olfactory brain volumes of MS patients compared with their lesion load. To this date no data are available on olfactory function of different types of the disease. Design/Methods: 54 patients (31 women, 23 men) and 30 control persons were examined. 10 patients had PPMS, 25 patients RRMS, 12 patients acute ON in the beginning state of disease and 7 patients had NMO. Exclusion criteria were olfactory disorders with a different genesis (sinunasal, post-viral, post-traumatic, toxic). Olfactory testing was performed using the tripartide TDI-test measuring olfactory threshold, the discrimination and the identification of different odours. Results: 9 of 10 PPMS patients (90%), 9 of 25 RRMS patients (36%), 7 of 12 ON patients (58%), 3 of 7 NMO patients (43%) and 1 of 30 control persons (3%) displayed hyposmia. The rest of the patients were normosmic, none was anosmic. There was a difference between the TDI-scores of patients with PPMS (p Conclusions: All different types of MS showed hyposmia. Olfactory dysfunction could be detected in early inflammatory phases as well as in chronic phases. Hyposmia seems to appear most frequently and most pronounced in PPMS patients. ON patients had a better perception of their olfactory capacity. Disclosure: Dr. Schmidt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goektas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Harms has received personal compensation for activities with Biomarin, Biogen, Bayer Health Care, Talecris, Merck-Serono as scientific advisory board member and/or speaker.