title: Olfactory bulb and olfactory sulcus depths are associated with disease duration and attack frequency in multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease that progresses to axonal loss and demyelinization. Olfactory dysfunction in patients with MS has been reported frequently. We were interested in the associations of olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory sulcus depth (OSD) with disease duration and attack frequency.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 25 patients with MS and 30 age- and sex-matched controls in this study. The Expanded Disability Status Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Mini Mental State Examination were applied. OB, OSD, and magnetic resonance imaging plaque numbers were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OB volume and OSD in patients with MS were significantly lower than those in the control group (right and left OB: p<0.001; right OSD: p=0.001; and left OSD: p=0.039). Disease duration was negatively correlated with right and left OB volume (right OB: r=-0.434, p=0.030 and left OB: r=-0.518, p=0.008). Attack frequency was negatively correlated with left OB volume and left OSD (left OB: r=-0.428, p=0.033 and left OSD: r=-0.431, p=0.032).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The OB and OSD were atrophied significantly in patients with MS, and this was correlated with disease duration and attack frequency. The left side tended to be dominant.
authors.affiliation: Bozok University Medical School, Department of Neurology, Turkey. Electronic address: drnermin27@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nermin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanik
authors.affiliation: Bozok University Medical School, Department of Radiology, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halil Ibrahim
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Serin
authors.affiliation: Bozok University Medical School, Department of Neurology, Turkey.
authors.forename: Asuman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Celikbilek
authors.affiliation: Bozok University Medical School, Department of Neurology, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent Ertugrul
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Inan
authors.affiliation: Bozok University Medical School, Department of Radiology, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gundogdu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000473:pathology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Attack frequency; Disease duration; Multiple sclerosis; Neuroimaging; Olfactory bulb; Olfactory sulcus depth