Coronavirus Infection, Sars-CoV2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Conditions
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, Sense of smell disorders, Anosmia, Olfaction, Nasal neuroepithelium, Olfactory mucosa
Brief summary
This study is a case-control study to characterize the molecular and cellular anomalies of the olfactory epithelium of COVID-19 patients with isolated anosmia, by comparison with the olfactory epithelium of non-infected subjects.
Detailed description
Olfactory and taste dysfunctions are common and early onset in COVID-19, especially in pauci symptomatic patients, and may be the main clinical manifestations of the infection. Olfactory dysfunction could result from infection of the olfactory system by SARS-CoV-2 or from inflammation induced by the virus. While the recent development of COVID-19 pulmonary lesion research has revealed a viral, inflammatory and vascular origin, factors that cause olfactory disorders in COVID-19 are just beginning. Acute anosmia observed in some patients with COVID-19 could result from: * the direct infection of olfactory sensory neurons or neural stem cells of the olfactory mucosa, * an underlying inflammation of the olfactory mucosa, leading to possible neurodegeneration of olfactory sensory neurons, and neural stem cells of the olfactory mucosa, by analogy with the respiratory viruses responsible for chronic rhinosinusitis. It is therefore necessary to conduct a virological, cellular, immunological and inflammatory study of the olfactory epithelium from COVID-19 patients with isolated anosmia to identify the origin of these olfactory disorders. This study is a case-control study to characterize the molecular and cellular anomalies of the olfactory epithelium of COVID-19 patients with isolated anosmia, by comparison with the olfactory epithelium of non-infected subjects. Following measures will be performed at inclusion : * Taste and olfactory function evaluation by a self-questionnaire taste and smell survey (TTS) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) * Nasal swab sampling for collection of epithelium cells and olfactory mucus.
Interventions
OTHERNasal swab
Nasal swab
OTHERTaste and olfactory function evaluation
Taste and olfactory function evaluation
Sponsors
Hôpital Lariboisière, AP-HP
Institut Pasteur
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
COVID-19 patients * Age \> 18 years * Subject consulting in the context of the COVID-19 screening care for a suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection Controls * Age \> 18 years * Subject consulting in the ear, nose and throat department with no biologically confirmed COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19 in the past 8 weeks, and no symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or another respiratory disease and therefore no recent anosmia or ageusia
Exclusion criteria
(both COVID-19 patients and controls): * Refusal or contraindication to nasal swab * Presence of nasal sinus pathology
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular and cellular defects in olfactory epithelium | 30 months | Ratio of olfactory sensory cells in the nasal cytological sample |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the disease | 30 months | Multiple measurements will be analyzed to characterize the immune and inflamatory status of the olfactory mucosa (presence of infiltrated immune cells, activation state of the immune cells in the epithelium, cytokine and interleukin level) |
| Epidemiological characteristics | 30 months | Demographic variables (sex, age, blood type), risk factors (tobacco, overweight, diabetes, rhinosinusitis disease, respiratory allergy) |
| Olfactory and taste dysfunction | 30 months | Self-questionnaire taste and smell survey (TTS) |
Countries
France
Outcome results
None listed