title: Olfactory function improves following hemodialysis.
abstract: Olfactory function has been shown to be affected in chronic kidney disease; however, studies are contradictory and little is known on the effects of dialysis. To resolve these issues we tested olfactory function in 24 healthy controls and in 28 patients with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis (20 patients) or peritoneal dialysis (the other 8). As assays for olfactory function we measured smell identification, n-butanol and acetic acid thresholds, Kt/V urea, percentage reduced urea, and weights before and after dialysis. Olfactory function was also self-rated by the participants. Compared to healthy controls, predialysis olfactory function was moderately but significantly decreased in the two dialysis groups, with hemodialysis patients being more affected. Patients self-rated olfactory function similar to that of healthy controls, suggesting that patients are unaware of the olfactory decrease. Olfactory function was significantly improved by one hemodialysis session. Neither body mass index, total volume loss, nor any other dialysis parameter correlated with olfactory function or its restitution following hemodialysis. The observed pattern of improvement suggests underlying mixed peripheral and central mechanisms. Thus, olfactory dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease is readily reversible by hemodialysis.
authors.affiliation: Smell and Taste Outpatient Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland. bnlandis@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Basile N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Landis
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marangon
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saudan
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hugentobler
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giger
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Jean-Silvain
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lacroix
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012903:Smell; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014508:Urea