Purpose: To evaluate the olfactory function and the olfactory bulb (OB) volume changes in Wilson's Disease (WD) patients.
Methods: A prospective, controlled, single-blinded study was planned. 12 patients with WD (Group 1) and 12 healthy subjects (Group 2) were included in the study. Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) test was applied to evaluate olfactory functions. OB volumes were measured with a 1.5 T General Electric Signa Excite MRI scanner.
Results: There was a significant difference between the CCCRC scores of the two groups (p < 0.05). The difference of the OB volumes of the two groups was insignificant (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: WD patients are likely to experience olfactory dysfunction, so its assessment may be a useful tool to the follow-up care of these patients, although further studies are needed to evaluate correlations in WD evolution.
Keywords: Olfaction; Olfactory bulb; Olfactory dysfunction; Wilson’s disease.