Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Although allergic rhinitis (AR) can negatively impact the ability to smell, the degree to which this occurs is not clear and prevalence estimates vary among studies. This study had 4 main objectives: (1) To estimate the prevalence and the degree of olfactory dysfunction in AR patients; (2) To compare olfactory perception between AR patients with different persistence and severity of symptoms and determine if olfactory testing may aid in differentiating among Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) groups; (3) To determine whether allergic reactions to different allergens differentially impact olfactory function, and (4) Verify possible changes in the olfactory epithelium (OE) caused by AR.
METHODS: One hundred thirty-three patients with AR and one hundred controls were tested. The main outcome was the score in University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT®). The OE was examined using immunofluorescence markers for neuronal activity, apoptosis, oxidative stress, signal transduction, eosinophils, and epithelial thickness.
RESULTS: Prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in the AR patients was higher (AR: 42.9% vs controls: 9%, P < .001). No difference was found either between intermittent and persistent disease cases (P = .58) or between cases with mild and those with moderate/severe symptomatology (P = .33). Lower olfactory capacity was not associated with the reaction to more (P = .48) or diverse types of allergens (Ps > .05). Although not significant, patients with AR had a greater amount of eosinophilia and a lower amount of cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) in the OE.
CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights a higher prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in AR patients compared to controls, but olfactory testing may not effectively differentiate AR severity or allergen sensitivities. Although trends suggest potential pathophysiological changes in the OE of AR patients, further research is needed to validate these findings.
METHODS: One hundred thirty-three patients with AR and one hundred controls were tested. The main outcome was the score in University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT®). The OE was examined using immunofluorescence markers for neuronal activity, apoptosis, oxidative stress, signal transduction, eosinophils, and epithelial thickness.
RESULTS: Prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in the AR patients was higher (AR: 42.9% vs controls: 9%, P < .001). No difference was found either between intermittent and persistent disease cases (P = .58) or between cases with mild and those with moderate/severe symptomatology (P = .33). Lower olfactory capacity was not associated with the reaction to more (P = .48) or diverse types of allergens (Ps > .05). Although not significant, patients with AR had a greater amount of eosinophilia and a lower amount of cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) in the OE.
CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights a higher prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in AR patients compared to controls, but olfactory testing may not effectively differentiate AR severity or allergen sensitivities. Although trends suggest potential pathophysiological changes in the OE of AR patients, further research is needed to validate these findings.
摘要：
背景：尽管过敏性鼻炎（AR）会对嗅觉能力产生负面影响，这种情况发生的程度尚不清楚,研究中的患病率估计也各不相同.这项研究有4个主要目标：（1）评估AR患者的嗅觉功能障碍的患病率和程度；（2）比较具有不同持续性和症状严重程度的AR患者的嗅觉感知，并确定嗅觉测试是否有助于区分过敏性鼻炎及其对哮喘（ARIA）组的影响；（3）确定对不同过敏原的过敏反应是否差异影响嗅觉功能，和(4)验证AR引起的嗅觉上皮(OE)的可能变化。
方法：对123名AR患者和100名对照者进行了测试。主要结果是宾夕法尼亚大学气味识别测试（UPSIT®）的得分。使用免疫荧光标记检查OE的神经元活性，凋亡，氧化应激，信号转导，嗜酸性粒细胞,和上皮厚度。
结果：AR患者嗅觉功能障碍的患病率更高（AR：42.9％vs对照组：9％，P<.001)。间歇性和持续性疾病病例之间（P=0.58）或轻度和中度/重度症状病例之间（P=0.33）均无差异。较低的嗅觉能力与对更多（P=0.48）或多种类型的过敏原（Ps>0.05）的反应无关。虽然不重要，AR患者OE中嗜酸性粒细胞增多和cAMP(环磷酸腺苷)含量较低.
结论：该研究强调AR患者的嗅觉功能障碍患病率高于对照组，但嗅觉测试可能无法有效区分AR严重程度或过敏原敏感性。尽管趋势表明AR患者OE的潜在病理生理变化，需要进一步的研究来验证这些发现.
方法：对123名AR患者和100名对照者进行了测试。主要结果是宾夕法尼亚大学气味识别测试（UPSIT®）的得分。使用免疫荧光标记检查OE的神经元活性，凋亡，氧化应激，信号转导，嗜酸性粒细胞,和上皮厚度。
结果：AR患者嗅觉功能障碍的患病率更高（AR：42.9％vs对照组：9％，P<.001)。间歇性和持续性疾病病例之间（P=0.58）或轻度和中度/重度症状病例之间（P=0.33）均无差异。较低的嗅觉能力与对更多（P=0.48）或多种类型的过敏原（Ps>0.05）的反应无关。虽然不重要，AR患者OE中嗜酸性粒细胞增多和cAMP(环磷酸腺苷)含量较低.
结论：该研究强调AR患者的嗅觉功能障碍患病率高于对照组，但嗅觉测试可能无法有效区分AR严重程度或过敏原敏感性。尽管趋势表明AR患者OE的潜在病理生理变化，需要进一步的研究来验证这些发现.
