Multicenter Study of Modified Intravenous Olfactometry

Abstract

A weak point of intravenous olfactometry using Alinamin^® (prosultiamine) solution is that angialgia and fluctuation in the pattern of increase in intranasal smell perception are frequently observed during the test. A previous study reported that modified intravenous olfactometry using a 12-ml solution (6 × dilution by adding 10ml of saline to original 10mg [2ml] of prosultiamine solution) injected for 40 s is helpful for avoidance of angialgia and smell fluctuation. The present study was conducted to determine if the modified intravenous olfactometry is generally useful in many smell centers. A total of 143 normosmic subjects in 15 smell centers participated in this study. They were divided into two groups at random and the original or modified intravenous olfactometry was applied. There were no statistically significant differences between these two groups for latency or duration time of smell sensation, or frequency of the angialgia or smell fluctuation. In conclusion, the modified intravenous olfactometry does not exceed the original test in preventing angialgia or smell fluctuation.