Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Cardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Eur J Pharmacol. 2021 Dec 5;912:174582. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174582. Epub 2021 Oct 19.
The acute loss of taste and smell following COVID-19 are hallmark symptoms that affect 20-85% of patients. However, the pathophysiology and potential treatments of COVID-19 smell and taste loss are not fully understood. We searched the literature to review the potential pathologic pathways and treatment options for COVID-19 smell and taste loss. The interaction of novel coronavirus with ACE-2 receptors expressed on sustentacular cells and taste buds results in direct damage to the olfactory and gustatory systems. Also, the invasion of the virus to the olfactory neurons and consequent local inflammation are other proposed mechanisms. Therefore, COVID-19 patients with smell or taste loss may benefit from neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, or depolarizing agents. Based on the current evidence, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, insulin, and corticosteroids can be promising for the management of COVID-19 smell and taste loss. This review provided crucial information for treating COVID-19-related smell and/or taste loss, urging to perform large clinical trials to find optimum treatment options.
新冠病毒感染后出现的急性味觉和嗅觉丧失是标志性症状，影响 20-85%的患者。然而，新冠病毒味觉和嗅觉丧失的病理生理学和潜在治疗方法尚未完全阐明。我们查阅了文献，综述了新冠病毒味觉和嗅觉丧失的潜在病理途径和治疗选择。新型冠状病毒与支持细胞和味蕾上表达的 ACE-2 受体相互作用，导致嗅觉和味觉系统的直接损伤。此外，病毒入侵嗅神经元和随之而来的局部炎症也是其他提出的机制。因此，嗅觉或味觉丧失的新冠病毒患者可能受益于神经保护、抗炎或去极化药物。基于目前的证据，磷酸二酯酶抑制剂、胰岛素和皮质类固醇可能是治疗新冠病毒味觉和嗅觉丧失的有前途的药物。本综述为治疗新冠病毒相关的嗅觉和/或味觉丧失提供了关键信息，敦促进行大型临床试验以寻找最佳治疗选择。
