Taste disorders in acute stroke: a prospective observational study on taste disorders in 102 stroke patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to assess whether and how frequently patients with acute first-ever stroke exhibit gustatory dysfunction.


METHODS
We performed a 1-year prospective observational study. Gustatory function was assessed using the standardized "taste strips" test. In addition, we assessed olfactory function, swallowing, stroke location, comorbidities, and the patients' medication.


RESULTS
A total of 102 consecutive patients were enrolled (45 female, 57 male; mean age, 63 years); 31 of them (30%) exhibited gustatory loss and 7 (6%) had lateralized impairment of taste function. Predictors of impaired taste function were male gender (P=0.003), high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission (P=0.009), coexisting swallowing dysfunction (P=0.026), and a stroke of partial anterior circulation subtype (PACS) (P=0.008). In particular, in hypogeusic patients the lesion was most frequently localized in the frontal lobe (P=0.009). Follow-up examinations in 14 patients indicated improvement of taste sensitivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Taste disorders after stroke are frequent. A significant association was found for male gender, high NIHSS score, swallowing disorder, and PACS, particularly in the frontal lobe. Generally, taste disorders after stroke seem to have a good prognosis.
Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. josef.heckmann@neuro.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Josef G
JG
Heckmann
Christina
C
Stössel
Christoph J G
CJ
Lang
Bernhard
B
Neundörfer
Bernd
B
Tomandl
Thomas
T
Hummel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013649:Taste; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors