title: Effects of systemic immunotherapy on olfactory function in allergic rhinitis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allergic rhinitis (AR), a chronic inflammatory disorder of the nasal mucosa, affects approximately 20% of the world's population and often causes olfactory dysfunction. Conventional treatments cannot cure it, but only alleviate and control the symptoms. Systemic immunotherapy (SIT) is the only curative treatment for AR, but its positive effect on olfactory function has not been quantitatively demonstrated. We measured the olfactory function in patients using a "Sniffin' Sticks" test and analyzed the effects of subcutaneous SIT.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 12 patients (aged 13-44 years) who were eligible to receive subcutaneous SIT to treat AR between 2010 and 2012 in the Department of Otolaryngology, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital. A 3-step Sniffin' Sticks test was performed before and 18 months after subcutaneous SIT. The data collected before and after treatment were compared for each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average scores for smell test parameters increased after treatment. Although improvements in the mean threshold, mean discrimination, and mean total scores were not significant, the mean identification score was significantly improved after treatment (P < 0.05). Age, sex, and smoking were not significantly related to the changes in the parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subcutaneous SIT improved the olfactory performance in AR patients. Additional studies with larger patient populations and longer follow-up periods are needed to establish subcutaneous SIT as an effective treatment for olfactory disorders in these patients.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Otolaryngology, Devrek State Hospital, Devrek, Zonguldak; †Department of Otolaryngology, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul; ‡Department of Otolaryngology, Ercis State Hospital, Ercis, Van; and §Department of Otolaryngology, Hisar Intercontinental Hospital, and ∥Department of Otolaryngology, Safa Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tansuker
authors.forename: Berna Uslu
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Coşkun
authors.forename: Yusuf Orhan
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Uçal
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sözen
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erdurak
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sakalli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult