title: Olfactory function and nasal manifestations of Behçet's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Behçet's disease on olfactory function, the nasal mucosa, and nasal symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 patients with Behçet's disease and 30 healthy individuals volunteered to enroll in the study. Any condition leading to olfactory dysfunction was a criterion for exclusion. Nasal endoscopy was carried out individually, and nasal symptoms were assessed. An olfactory function assessment test defined by the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) was carried out. n-Butanol odor threshold and odor identification tests were performed, and the CCCRC test score (0: worst score; 7: best score) was calculated. The relationship between nasal findings, nasal symptoms, and olfactory function was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of each group was the late 1930s, and demographic differences were not significant. n-Butanol threshold test scores were 5.57 ± 1.0 and 6.47 ± 0.7 out of 7 for subjects with Behçet's disease and the healthy control group, respectively. Identification test scores were 4.93 ± 1.3 and 6.15 ± 0.8 out of 7 and the mean CCCRC scores were 5.25 ± 1.0 and 6.31 ± 0.6, respectively, with significant differences (p<0.001). Some nasal symptoms were significantly more common in patients with nasal findings, but no correlation was found between nasal findings and olfactory function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although Behçet's disease has been shown to involve the nasal cavity, its effects on olfactory function are unknown. The significant difference in CCCRC scores suggests, for the first time, that olfactory dysfunction is associated with Behçet's disease. Nasal symptoms are associated with the presence of nasal lesions, but there is no correlation between nasal findings and olfactory function.
authors.affiliation: Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bayram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Veyseller
authors.affiliation: Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Remzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.affiliation: Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: berkeozucer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Berke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozücer
authors.affiliation: Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fadlullah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayşenur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meriç
authors.affiliation: Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Department of Dermatology, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Bezmiâlem Vakif University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozturan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004724:Endoscopy; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D014456:Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Behçet's disease; Nasal endoscopy; Nasal mucosa; Nasal symptoms; Olfaction; Olfactory function; Rheumatology