Decreasing nasal mucus Ca++ improves hyposmia.
It is well documented that cytoplasmic Ca++ regulates sensitivity to cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). There is also evidence that Ca++ in the mucus may also modulate sensitivity to cAMP in vivo. Assuming that mucosal Ca++ could significantly change the excitability of the receptor neurons, we examined the alterations in the olfactory sensitivity by creating small changes in mucosal Ca++. Thirty one patients complaining of olfactory loss were examined and their olfactory acuity was measured before and after the administration of a sodium citrate buffer solution in the nasal cleft. Thirty patients (96.8%) improved their scores in less than an hour period of time. Furthermore, 23 of them (74.2%) realized an improvement in their own sense of smell.
Panagiotopoulos
Georgios
G
ENT Department, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Greece. gporl@hotmail.com
Naxakis
Stefanos
S
Papavasiliou
Antonios
A
Filipakis
Konstantinos
K
Papatheodorou
Georgios
G
Goumas
Panagiotis
P
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002951:Citrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D013997:Time Factors
D002951:Citrates; D014663:Nasal Decongestants; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D002118:Calcium