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Flavor perception test: evaluation in patients with Kallmann syndrome

  • Endocrine Methods and Techniques
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Abstract

In Kallmann syndrome (KS), congenital hypogonadism is associated with olfactory impairment. To evaluate flavor perception-related disability in KS patients, 30 patients with KS, 12 with normosmic hypogonadism (nIHH), 24 with acquired anosmia (AA), and 58 healthy controls entered the study. All participants completed questionnaires concerning dietary habits, olfaction-related quality of life (QoL), and self-determined olfactory, flavor, and taste abilities prior to undergoing standardized olfactometry and gustometry. Each subject underwent flavor testing, using orally administered aqueous aromatic solutions, identifying 21 different compounds by choosing each out of 5 alternative items. Flavor score (FS) was calculated as the sum of correct answers (range 0–21). Flavor perception by self-assessment was similar between KS, nIHH, and controls, and was mostly reduced only in AA. FS was similar between KS (5.4 ± 1.4) and AA (6.4 ± 1.9), and lower than in nIHH (16.2 ± 2.4, p < 0.001) and controls (16.8 ± 1.7, p < 0.0001). FS showed strong reproducibility, and correlated with olfactory scores in the overall population. KS and AA patients identified aromatics eliciting trigeminal stimulation better than pure odorants. Olfaction-related QoL was more impaired in AA than in KS. We report significant flavor impairment in KS. This contrasts with routine clinic evidence; KS patients, in contrast with AA, do not complain of flavor perception impairment, perhaps owing to the congenital nature of the dysfunction. Flavor perception impairment should be considered a specific KS disability, because of important detrimental effects on physical and mental health and on QoL. KS patients should also be advised of this impairment in order to prevent accidental and life-threatening events.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Campus Salute Onlus for collaborating with Federico II University, and for allowing the enrolment of a sample population drawn from educational and preventive medical programs particularly addressed to the general population. We are grateful to Dr Corinne Eloit for her competence and expertise in the domain of sensorineural abilities, and for her inspiring insights. We are indebted to Donato Creti, Francesca Trapani, and the entire team at Enrico GIOTTI spa for their commitment and for providing facilities to prepare and distribute the aromatic bases used in this study.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Area Funzionale di Endocrinologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80131, Naples, Italy

      Luigi Maione, Immacolata Cristina Nettore, Paolo Emidio Macchia, Rosario Pivonello & Annamaria Colao

    2. Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, UOC di Otorinolaringoiatria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80131, Naples, Italy

      Elena Cantone, Nunzia Maione & Maurizio Iengo

    3. Dipartimento Materno Infantile, U.O. Genetica Medica, L’Azienda Ospedaliera di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specialità San Giuseppe Moscati, 83100, Avellino, Italy

      Gaetana Cerbone

    4. Dipartimento dei Servizi A.O.R.N. Antonio Cardarelli, Unità Operativa Struttura Complessa U.O.S.C. di Genetica Medica, 80131, Naples, Italy

      Davide De Brasi

    5. Service d’Endocrinologie et Maladies de la Reproduction, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Université Paris Sud, 94275, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France

      Jacques Young

    6. IRCCS Istituto di Ricerca Diagnostica e Nucleare SDN, 80143, Naples, Italy

      Carolina Di Somma

    7. Dipartimento di Scienze Cardio-Toraciche e Respiratorie, Seconda Università Degli Studi di Napoli, 80131, Naples, Italy

      Antonio Agostino Sinisi

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    1. Luigi Maione
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    Correspondence to Luigi Maione.

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    Luigi Maione and Elena Cantone have contributed equally to this work.

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    Maione, L., Cantone, E., Nettore, I.C. et al. Flavor perception test: evaluation in patients with Kallmann syndrome. Endocrine 52, 236–243 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-015-0690-y

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