[Dependence of uni- and bilateral olfactory capacity on nasal airflow in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis].
OBJECTIVE
Olfactory dysfunction is a common finding in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between olfaction and nasal flow as determined by active anterior rhinomanometry (AAR).


METHODS
Thirty patients with CRS were included in this series. Patients' histories and subjective assessments of olfaction were documented with questionnaires. Smell tests, assessments of olfaction, AAR, and results of rhinoscopy were recorded, including odor identification, discrimination and thresholds measured with the "Sniffin' Sticks"-test.


RESULTS
CRS influenced olfactory performances variably in the different tests: 10% of the patients had pathologic rates of odor discrimination, compared with 34% in odor identification and 73% in thresholds. Statistical analyses (using Spearman's test) indicated a significant correlation between nasal airflow and odor identification screening (r29 = 0.56, P < 0.01) and n-butanol-threshold (r29 = 0.44, P < 0.05), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Olfactory performance in CRS was correlated to several parameters of nasal airflow measured with AAR. The n-butanol threshold test revealed the most frequent pathological results and may best be used for detecting olfactory disorders. However, because a number of factors may influence olfactory dysfunction in CRS, our findings must be evaluated in a lager series.
Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Universität zu Köln.
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Damm
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Eckel
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Streppel
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Jungehülsing
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Stennert
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*