Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in Myasthenia gravis: A study in Turkish patients

Abstract Objective Myasthenia gravis (MG) is commonly viewed as a muscle disorder. Less is known about neurosensory function and dysfunction in MG. We aim to evaluate olfactory and gustatory behavior in Turkish patients with MG, and compare these results with age and sex-matched healthy controls. Ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the neurological sciences 2015-09, Vol.356 (1), p.188-192
Main Authors: Tekeli, Hakan, Senol, Mehmet G, Altundag, Aytug, Yalcınkaya, Esin, Kendirli, Mustafa T, Yaşar, Halit, Salihoglu, Murat, Saglam, Omer, Cayonu, Melih, Cesmeci, Enver, Hummel, Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetylcholine
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Case-Control Studies
Female
Gastrointestinal Diseases - etiology
Gustatory function
Humans
Male
Mental Status Schedule
Middle Aged
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia Gravis - complications
Myasthenia Gravis - epidemiology
Neurodegenerative disease
Neurology
Olfaction Disorders - etiology
Olfactory function
Sensory Thresholds - physiology
Smell - physiology
Taste - physiology
Turkey - epidemiology
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Summary:Abstract Objective Myasthenia gravis (MG) is commonly viewed as a muscle disorder. Less is known about neurosensory function and dysfunction in MG. We aim to evaluate olfactory and gustatory behavior in Turkish patients with MG, and compare these results with age and sex-matched healthy controls. Material/methods 30 individuals with MG, and 30 healthy volunteers were studied. Olfactory function was studied with the Sniffin' sticks test. Taste strip test was used for studying taste function. The t-test was used for analyzing continuous variables, and the chi-square test for categorical data. Clinical staging and medication status were included in a model analyzed using analysis of variances. Results MG patients showed significantly lower olfactory (p < 0.001) and gustatory scores (p < 0.001) than the healthy controls. In addition, olfactory loss correlated with the severity of the disease. Medications for MG did not influence these results. Conclusion This study replicates the olfactory dysfunction found elsewhere in MG. Further, gustatory dysfunction, an activity unrelated to muscle strength, was also unveiled. Medications used for treating MG must not be blamed for the chemosensory dysfunction found in this neurological disorder.
ISSN:0022-510X
1878-5883
DOI:10.1016/j.jns.2015.06.054