Event-related potentials in patients with olfactory loss.

CONCLUSION

The olfactory event-related potential (OERP) method provides a means of objectively assessing olfactory function. However, further validation is needed before OERPs can be routinely applied in clinical assessment of olfactory dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE

To assess OERPs in patients with olfactory impairment and in healthy controls to investigate possible dose-response effects of odor concentration on OERP parameters in these groups, thereby exploring possibilities and limitations regarding the clinical utility of the OERP method.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Twenty-three patients with a history of impaired olfactory function and 24 controls participated in the study. Olfactory function was assessed with psychophysical tests, i.e. assessment of the odor threshold, and odor identification. OERPs were obtained in response to the olfactory stimulant butanol at two different concentrations, presented via an olfactometer.

RESULTS

The OERP amplitudes increased and the latencies shortened with increasing stimulus concentration. Furthermore, a difference between the groups was found, with higher OERP amplitudes and shorter latencies in healthy subjects compared with patients.