Comparison of olfactory function between neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Olfactory dysfunction (ODF) has been reported in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the comparison of olfactory function and olfactory-related gray matter (GM) between patients with NMO and MS needed to be further elucidated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with NMO and 37 with MS were enrolled. Olfactory function was evaluated with a Japanese T&T olfactometer test kit, and the neuroanatomical features of olfactory-related GM were assessed using voxel-based morphometry.

RESULTS: Olfactory deficits were found in 51.4% of patients with NMO and 40.5% of patients with MS. Patients with NMO with ODF had significantly smaller olfactory bulbs than patients with MS with ODF (p = 0.031). Olfactory-related GM atrophy was found in patients with NMO in several regions of the right orbitofrontal cortex and right superior frontal gyrus; in patients with MS, reduced GM volume was found in the right parahippocampal gyrus and piriform cortex (p < 0.05, cluster size > 200 voxels).

CONCLUSIONS: Olfactory deficits are common in both NMO and MS. However, the neuroanatomical features related to olfactory deficits differ greatly between the two diseases.