title: Olfactory alterations in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess olfactory function using the Connecticut test and verify correlations between olfactory alteration, disease duration and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred MS patients and 100 healthy control patients responded to a questionnaire. Those with olfactory alteration underwent a facial CT to exclude other causes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two percent of patients showed alterations, compared with 3% in the healthy control group. Patients having EDSS above 4, showed a 5.2-times increased risk of dysfunction. Patients over 38 years of age have a 2.2-times increased risk over younger patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because MS patients are likely to experience olfactory alterations, this study is a useful tool in follow-up care, although more studies are necessary to evaluate the correlations in MS evolution.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atendimento e Tratamento de Esclerose Múltipla - CATEM, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Sergio Semeraro
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jordy
authors.affiliation: Universidade Anhembi Morumbi, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Starzewski
authors.affiliation: Universidade Anhembi Morumbi, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Felipe André Basso
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.affiliation: Universidade Anhembi Morumbi, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gabriela Reginatto
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Manica
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atendimento e Tratamento de Esclerose Múltipla - CATEM, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Charles Peter
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Tilbery
authors.affiliation: Centro de Atendimento e Tratamento de Esclerose Múltipla - CATEM, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Gregorin
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Carabetta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors