Olfactometry in Patients with Certain Endocrine Diseases

Abstract

The endocrine system affects the function of many organs and systems. Some endocrine disorders damage the nervous system and the sensory systems. The aim of this study was to identify changes in the sense of smell in some endocrine diseases: prolactinoma, acromegaly, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The sense of smell in four groups of patients with these diseases was examined and compared with that of a group of healthy controls. For testing and evaluating the sense of smell, the olfactometer of Dimov-Raykov was used. In the four groups, we observed reduced sense of smell compared to the control group. We have found significant deviations in patients with acromegaly and prolactinoma. In other two groups of patients with hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, we established also weak pathological deviations; however they have no statistical significance.