The olfactory bulb - gateway for SARS-Cov-2?
Introduction. Anosmia and ageusia are one of the most common and characteristic symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) infection, with a frequency of almost 50% in patients in Western countries. Hypotheses proposing that the virus potentially affects the central ner...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Military Health Department, Ministry of Defance, Serbia
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2022/0042-84502100103J.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811312387527016448 |
|---|---|
| author | Jovanović Aleksandar Niković Jelena Boban Nikola Pejin Radoslav Samardžić Filip |
| author_facet | Jovanović Aleksandar Niković Jelena Boban Nikola Pejin Radoslav Samardžić Filip |
| author_sort | Jovanović Aleksandar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction. Anosmia and ageusia are one of the most common and characteristic symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) infection, with a frequency of almost 50% in patients in Western countries. Hypotheses proposing that the virus potentially affects the central nervous system (CNS) are on the rise. One hypothesis suggests that the virus enters via nasal mucosa and then enters the olfactory bulb via cribriform plate, with further dissemination to the CNS. Case report. A 34-year-old female patient experienced the loss of the sense of smell and taste about two months before testing positive for SARS-Cov-2. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presented with minor pneumonia and worsening anosmia and ageusia. After treatment, the patient recovered well, but anosmia and ageusia appeared again, varying in intensity, and since February 2021, they have become persistent. The case was evaluated by an otorhino-laryngologist, pulmonologist, and finally, a neurologist. In the meantime, the patient tested negative for SARS-Cov-2 and received two doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, and it clearly showed severe bilateral olfactory bulb atrophy. The patient has had anosmia and ageusia up to this day, and future MRI follow-up is planned. Conclusion. Loss of sense of smell and taste may be a predictor of further CNS dis-semination of the virus and possible neurological complications (which is still a subject of consideration). The olfactory bulb could be a gateway to COVID-19 intrusion into the CNS, and its atrophy could be an indicator of the process. Further investigation on this topic is required, including a wide application of MRI, in order to come to definite conclusions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:35:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e7d12c8a807644e189bf9c375f59676b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0042-8450 2406-0720 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:35:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Military Health Department, Ministry of Defance, Serbia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
| spelling | doaj.art-e7d12c8a807644e189bf9c375f59676b2022-12-22T02:50:04ZengMilitary Health Department, Ministry of Defance, SerbiaVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502406-07202022-01-0179552653110.2298/VSP210818103J0042-84502100103JThe olfactory bulb - gateway for SARS-Cov-2?Jovanović Aleksandar0Niković Jelena1Boban Nikola2Pejin Radoslav3Samardžić Filip4University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic of Neurology, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic of Neurology, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Radiology Center, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic of Endocrinology, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Radiology Center, Novi Sad, SerbiaIntroduction. Anosmia and ageusia are one of the most common and characteristic symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) infection, with a frequency of almost 50% in patients in Western countries. Hypotheses proposing that the virus potentially affects the central nervous system (CNS) are on the rise. One hypothesis suggests that the virus enters via nasal mucosa and then enters the olfactory bulb via cribriform plate, with further dissemination to the CNS. Case report. A 34-year-old female patient experienced the loss of the sense of smell and taste about two months before testing positive for SARS-Cov-2. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presented with minor pneumonia and worsening anosmia and ageusia. After treatment, the patient recovered well, but anosmia and ageusia appeared again, varying in intensity, and since February 2021, they have become persistent. The case was evaluated by an otorhino-laryngologist, pulmonologist, and finally, a neurologist. In the meantime, the patient tested negative for SARS-Cov-2 and received two doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, and it clearly showed severe bilateral olfactory bulb atrophy. The patient has had anosmia and ageusia up to this day, and future MRI follow-up is planned. Conclusion. Loss of sense of smell and taste may be a predictor of further CNS dis-semination of the virus and possible neurological complications (which is still a subject of consideration). The olfactory bulb could be a gateway to COVID-19 intrusion into the CNS, and its atrophy could be an indicator of the process. Further investigation on this topic is required, including a wide application of MRI, in order to come to definite conclusions.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2022/0042-84502100103J.pdfageusiaanosmiaatrophycovid-19olfactory bulbmagnetic resonance imaging |
| spellingShingle | Jovanović Aleksandar Niković Jelena Boban Nikola Pejin Radoslav Samardžić Filip The olfactory bulb - gateway for SARS-Cov-2? Vojnosanitetski Pregled ageusia anosmia atrophy covid-19 olfactory bulb magnetic resonance imaging |
| title | The olfactory bulb - gateway for SARS-Cov-2? |
| title_full | The olfactory bulb - gateway for SARS-Cov-2? |
| title_fullStr | The olfactory bulb - gateway for SARS-Cov-2? |
| title_full_unstemmed | The olfactory bulb - gateway for SARS-Cov-2? |
| title_short | The olfactory bulb - gateway for SARS-Cov-2? |
| title_sort | olfactory bulb gateway for sars cov 2 |
| topic | ageusia anosmia atrophy covid-19 olfactory bulb magnetic resonance imaging |
| url | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2022/0042-84502100103J.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jovanovicaleksandar theolfactorybulbgatewayforsarscov2 AT nikovicjelena theolfactorybulbgatewayforsarscov2 AT bobannikola theolfactorybulbgatewayforsarscov2 AT pejinradoslav theolfactorybulbgatewayforsarscov2 AT samardzicfilip theolfactorybulbgatewayforsarscov2 AT jovanovicaleksandar olfactorybulbgatewayforsarscov2 AT nikovicjelena olfactorybulbgatewayforsarscov2 AT bobannikola olfactorybulbgatewayforsarscov2 AT pejinradoslav olfactorybulbgatewayforsarscov2 AT samardzicfilip olfactorybulbgatewayforsarscov2 |