Acute-phase reactants association with smell disorders in coronavirus disease 2019-infected patients

Ahmed A. Nassar, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, EgyptFollow
Ahmad M. Eltelety, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Article Type

Original Study

Subject Area

Rhinology, Endoscopic sinus surgery

Abstract

Objective Olfaction is a complex sensory process that has not been fully investigated. In this study, we aimed at investigating whether there is an association between acute-phase reactants [C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and serum ferritin] and the presence of smell disorders in coronavirus disease 2019-infected patients. Patients and methods A prospective study was conducted on 61 patients presented to the Otolaryngology Department with a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 based on the real-time reverse transcription PCR between July 2020 and February 2021. Participants in this study were divided into two groups: group A (olfactory dysfunction group) and group B (nonolfactory dysfunction group). Group A was further subdivided into two subgroups after 3 months: olfaction-recovery subgroup and olfaction-no-recovery subgroup. Complete blood count with differential count, acute-phase reactants, and NLR were investigated and compared at two chronological intervals: 0 and 3 months of diagnosis. Results The levels of CRP, ESR and NLR were found to be significantly increased in olfactory dysfunction group (group A) at 0 interval compared with nonolfactory dysfunction group (group B) (P=0.003, 0.001, and 0.04, respectively). After 3-month interval, CRP, ESR, serum ferritin, and NLR started to trend down in patients in group A who experienced complete recovery of smell disorders (olfaction-recovery subgroup). Compared with the olfaction-recovery subgroup, the olfaction-no-recovery subgroup showed higher levels of CRP and serum ferritin (P=0.01 and 0.04, respectively). Conclusion Increased levels of CRP, ESR, and NLR in patients with olfactory dysfunction suggest that they may play a role in the initiation of this symptom. Reduction of CRP and serum ferritin after 3 months from the onset of olfactory dysfunction can be a prognostic marker of smell recovery

Keywords

acute-phase reactants, coronavirus disease 2019, dysfunction, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, olfaction

Recommended Citation

Nassar A, Eltelety A. Acute-phase reactants association with smell disorders in coronavirus disease 2019-infected patients. Pan Arab J. Rhinol. 2022; 12 : 42-46.
Available at: https://pajr.researchcommons.org/journal/vol12/iss2/2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.58595/2090-7559.1205