Treatment of postviral olfactory loss with glucocorticoids, Ginkgo biloba, and mometasone nasal spray.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the efficacy of treating postviral olfactory loss with glucocorticoids, Ginkgo biloba, and mometasone furoate nasal spray.


METHODS
Randomized trial.


METHODS
Academic research.


METHODS
Seventy-one patients who were diagnosed as having postviral olfactory loss.


METHODS
All patients underwent olfactory function tests, including the butanol threshold test (BTT) and the cross-cultural smell identification test (CCSIT), and follow-up tests were performed 4 weeks later. In the interim, 28 patients were treated with prednisolone for 2 weeks (monotherapy), and the other 43 patients were treated with prednisolone for 2 weeks plus G biloba for 4 weeks (combination therapy). All patients used mometasone nasal spray twice daily for 4 weeks.


RESULTS
Scores on the BTT and CCSIT significantly increased after treatment in both groups (P < .001 for both). The mean (SD) BTT score changes were 1.4 (2.2) in the monotherapy group and 2.2 (2.9) in the combination therapy group (P = .22). The mean (SD) CCSIT score changes were 0.9 (1.7) in the monotherapy group and 1.9 (2.7) in the combination therapy group (P = .11). On the BTT, the treatment response (defined as a score increase of > or =3) rates were 32% (9 of 28) in the monotherapy group and 37% (16 of 43) in the combination therapy group (P = .66), and the odds ratio was 1.25 (95% confidence interval, 0.46-3.42). On the CCSIT, the treatment response rates were 14% (4 of 28) in the monotherapy group and 33% (14 of 43) in the combination therapy group (P = .08), and the odds ratio was 2.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.84-9.97).


CONCLUSIONS
Olfactory function in patients with postviral olfactory loss was significantly improved by both treatment modalities. Although the treatment response was not statistically different between the monotherapy group and the combination therapy group, the addition of G biloba showed a tendency of greater efficacy in the treatment of postviral olfactory loss.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 300 Goomi-Dong, Bundang-Gu, Seongnam 463-707, South Korea.
Beom Seok
BS
Seo
Hyun Jong
HJ
Lee
Ji-Hun
JH
Mo
Chul Hee
CH
Lee
Chae-Seo
CS
Rhee
Jeong-Whun
JW
Kim
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D011239:Prednisolone