Olfactory deficits in cystic fibrosis: distribution and severity

Abstract

Patients ( n = 20) with cystic fibrosis (CF) exhibited olfactory impairment relative to a group of unaffected controls ( n = 15). Detection thresholds for the floral odorant phenylethylmethylethylcarbinol (PEMEC) were significantly elevated and performance on the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was significantly depressed. Three patients displayed thresholds markedly higher than those of any other participants. These patients were also the only participants to perform at a chance level on the multiple-choice items of the odor identification test, UPSIT. The average deficit of the patients on the threshold and identification tasks in the present study reinforces an earlier challenge to the reported hypersensitivity of CF patients to chemosensory stimuli. In addition, this study suggests that some CF patients display an olfactory deficit that is general and complete.