Journal
INFLAMMOPHARMACOLOGY
Volume 30, Issue 6, Pages 2079-2087Publisher
SPRINGER BASEL AG
DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-01066-z
Keywords
COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 infection; Inflammation mediators; Cytokines; Olfaction disorders; Anosmia; Taste disorders; Ageusia
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Funding
- coordination of superior level staff improvement-CAPES [001, 88881.157445/2017-01]
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Patients with COVID-19 experiencing chemosensory dysfunctions have lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers compared to patients without these disturbances, potentially indicating a more favorable clinical course.
Background There is evidence that chemosensory dysfunctions, including smell and taste disorders, are common findings in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the underlying biological mechanisms and the role of inflammatory markers are still poorly understood. Aim To investigate the inflammatory biomarkers levels in patients with COVID-19 presenting chemosensory dysfunctions. Methods This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. A systematic literature search was performed from January 1, 2020, to May 12, 2022. Observational studies that provided data on hematological, biochemical, infection-related indices and cellular immunity, and coagulation function in patients with COVID-19 experiencing smell and/or taste disorders were considered eligible. Effect sizes were reported as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A negative effect size indicated that the inflammatory biomarker levels were lower among patients with chemosensory dysfunctions. Results Eleven studies were included. Patients with chemosensory disturbances had lower levels of leukocytes (SMD - 0.18, 95% CI - 0.35 to - 0.01, p = 0.04), lactate dehydrogenase (SMD - 0.45, 95% CI - 0.82 to - 0.09, p = 0.01), IL-6 (SMD - 0.25, 95% CI - 0.44 to - 0.06, p < 0.01), and C-reactive protein (SMD - 0.33, 95% CI - 0.58 to - 0.08, p < 0.01) than patients without chemosensory disturbances. Conclusion Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who have olfactory and gustatory disorders have a lower inflammatory response than patients who do not have chemosensory alterations. The presence of these symptoms may indicate a more favorable clinical course for COVID-19.
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