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Persistent olfactory dysfunction after COVID‐19 is associated with reduced perfusion in the frontal lobe
Author(s) -
Yus Miguel,
MatiasGuiu Jordi A.,
GilMartínez Lidia,
GómezRuiz Natividad,
Polidura Carmen,
Jorquera Manuela,
DelgadoAlonso Cristina,
DíezCirarda María,
MatíasGuiu Jorge,
Arrazola Juan
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/ane.13627
Subject(s) - medicine , olfactory system , white matter , olfaction , pathology , pathophysiology , neuroimaging , frontal lobe , paranasal sinuses , central nervous system , diffusion mri , neuroscience , magnetic resonance imaging , psychology , radiology
Background Olfactory dysfunction is common during SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The pathophysiology of the persistence of this symptom and the potential relationship with central nervous system involvement is unknown. Aim of the study To evaluate the neural correlates of persistent olfactory dysfunction in a series of patients with post‐COVID syndrome. Methods Eighty‐two patients with post‐COVID syndrome were assessed with the Brief Smell Identification Test and a multimodal MRI study including 3D‐T1, T2‐FLAIR, diffusion‐tensor imaging, and arterial spin labeling. Olfactory and neuroimaging examinations were performed 11.18 ± 3.78 months after the acute infection. Voxel‐based brain mapping analyses were conducted to correlate the olfactory test with brain volumes, white matter microstructure, and brain perfusion. Results Olfactory dysfunction was associated with lower tissue perfusion in the orbital and medial frontal regions in the arterial spin labeling sequence. Conversely, no statistically significant findings were detected in brain volumes and diffusion‐tensor imaging. Mild changes in paranasal sinuses and nasal cavities were detected in 9.75% of cases, with no association with olfactory deficits. Conclusions We provide new insights regarding the pathophysiology of persistent olfactory dysfunction after COVID‐19, involving the main brain regions associated with the olfactory system.