Clinical InvestigationAn Open-Label Controlled Trial of Theophylline for Treatment of Patients With Hyposmia
Section snippets
METHODS
All studies were performed at The Taste and Smell Clinic, Washington, DC between June 2000 and February 2007 and constitute studies on consecutive patients who presented to the clinic because of loss of smell function and who exhibited salivary32 and nasal mucus33 levels of cAMP and cGMP below the normal mean. Studies were approved by the institutional review board of the Georgetown University Medical Center; all patients gave informed consent to participate in this study.
There were 312
Comparison of Smell Function in Normal Subjects and in Untreated Patients With Hyposmia
Results of measurements for DT, RT, ME, and H in untreated patients indicated significant impairment of smell function compared with normal subjects (Table 2). For DT and RT in untreated patients responses were significantly higher (less sensitive) than in normals (Table 2); ME responses were significantly lower (less sensitive) than in normals. H responses were significantly lower (less pleasant) for amyl acetate and nitrobenzene (odors usually considered pleasant) and significantly lower for
DISCUSSION
These results indicate that 157 of the 312 patients in the study (50.3%) were responsive to treatment with theophylline. Of these, 34 (21.7%) considered their smell function returned to normal levels. Overall 10.9% of all patients in the study considered their smell function had returned to normal. Improvement in smell function, once occurred, persisted as long as treatment was measured.
Initial studies were made at 2-to 6-month intervals after drug initiation. Subjective responses indicated
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Presented, in part, at Experimental Biology, San Diego, CA, April, 2008.