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Latsh N.Yu.

Pirogov National Research Medical University

Yunyaev A.R.

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

Evsyukova E.D.

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

The alleged mechanisms of olfactory disorders in the new coronavirus infection

Authors:

Latsh N.Yu., Yunyaev A.R., Evsyukova E.D.

More about the authors

Journal: S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2023;123(2): 7‑11

DOI: 10.17116/jnevro20231230217

Read: 2364 times

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Table of contents

THE ALLEGED MECHANISMS OF OLFACTORY DISORDERS IN THE NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTION
THE ALLEGED MECHANISMS OF OLFACTORY DISORDERS IN THE NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTION

To cite this article:

Latsh NYu, Yunyaev AR, Evsyukova ED. The alleged mechanisms of olfactory disorders in the new coronavirus infection. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2023;123(2):7‑11. (In Russ.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro20231230217

Подписка 2026 Журнал неврологии и психиатрии им. С.С. Корсакова (S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry)
 
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Abstract:

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to the present. A change in the sense of smell, up to the complete disappearance of odors, is regarded as one of the early symptoms of the disease. Sometimes anosmia was the only sign of infection of the patient. As is known, a disturbance of the sense of smell indicates a serious pathology of the brain, such as the consequences of traumatic brain injuries, strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune diseases, a side-effect of drug therapy. The review is dedicated to the pathogenesis of anosmia in COVID-19. For a better understanding of the pathogenesis, the article presents a brief anatomy and physiology of the olfactory organ as well as the probable mechanisms of anosmia: encephalitis, inflammatory edema of the olfactory cleft, olfactory epithelium damage, apoptosis of bipolar neurons, damage of olfactory cell cilia and damage of olfactory bulbs. Because of the rapid accumulation of information on this topic, there is a need to structure, periodic systematization and presentation to a wide range of specialists.

Keywords:

hyposmia
anosmia
olfaction
olfactory bulb
olfactory epithelium
coronavirus disease
SARS-CoV-2
encephalitis

Authors:

Latsh N.Yu.

Pirogov National Research Medical University

Yunyaev A.R.

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

Evsyukova E.D.

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University

Received:

19.09.2022

Accepted:

23.09.2022

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