Dysfunctional Chemosensation in Myasthenia Gravis

Abstract

Chemosensory dysfunction has been reported in a number of patients with myasthenia gravis. Given the close association between complaints of taste dysfunction and loss of flavor sensations secondary to olfactory system damage, quantitative testing should be used to accurately assess the nature and degree of the dysfunction present in this debilitating disorder.

“Unclassical” Combination of Smell Dysfunction, Altered Abdominal Nociception and Human Hypertension Associated “Classical” Adrenal-Augmentation

“…Fourth, unquantified smell dysfunction has been reported from patients harboring synaptophysin and CGA dysfunction associated nasal dysfunction [42, 46, 47]. Fifth, olfactory disorders have been detected by patients suffering neural disorders-associated cholinergic neurotransmission days before their actual disease surfaced [48, 49]. Sixth, quick and impressive plastic changes of olfactory function following clinical improvement similar to the trend reported here have been found in disorders associated nanocholinergic dysfunction [48, 49].…”

“…Fifth, olfactory disorders have been detected by patients suffering neural disorders-associated cholinergic neurotransmission days before their actual disease surfaced [48, 49]. Sixth, quick and impressive plastic changes of olfactory function following clinical improvement similar to the trend reported here have been found in disorders associated nanocholinergic dysfunction [48, 49]. Seventh, the smell function in our patient was impaired before mass removal, regaining the olfactory function after surgical procedure, all of which was reflcted in the UPSIT scores.…”

Myasthenia Gravis With Thymoma, Manifesting as AChR-Ab-Positive, Distinct Bulbar Palsy Accompanied by Dysgeusia: A Case Series and Review of Literature

“…It is hypothesized that the antibody generated by autoimmunity blocks the cholinergic receptors of the central nervous system. A number of studies have also confirmed this hypothesis by detecting the presence of acetylcholinergic receptors in the gustatory bud cells ( 8 ). Moreover, an animal-model experiment has shown that acetylcholine mediates the conduction of information between gustatory bud recipient cells and increases the activities of gustatory afferent neurofibers ( 9 ).…”

Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in Myasthenia gravis: A study in Turkish patients

“…Case reports have anecdotally reported on chemosensory dysfunction in individuals with MG [35]. Leon-Sarmiento et al [26] proved, using the UPSIT, that MG patients had a clear smell loss.…”

“…P value was set at b 0.05. Results from olfactory testing can be analyzed separately from each other and/or as the sum of the scores from the three individual tests [32,35]. Since our aim was to determine olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, collapsed olfactory analyses were not done.…”