Taste and smell study on psoriasis patients

[Fred]

A recent presentation by Erlangen University Germany at Psoriasis gene to clinic suggest a link to taste and smell with psoriasis patients.

Quote:

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The various aspects of nutrition are a major issue in patient care for psoriasis. Metabolic disorders and increased body mass index are frequently encountered in this patients group and may result from systemic inflammation characteristic for the disease and/or unbalanced intake of food calories by the patients.

Interestingly, in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases relevant gustatory and olfactory changes have been detected. These result in a disturbed food intake and are normalized again upon successful treatment of the disease. Here, patients with psoriasis were tested before any systemic treatment for the gustatory qualities sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. They were tested with appropriate solutions sprayed onto the back of the tongue in a standardized procedure, as well as by using sniffing sticks for olfaction.

Thirty-three patients were tested: 18 women and 15 men with a mean age of 54.3 years (range 21–85), a mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of 8 (range 0.7–24) and mean C-reactive protein (CRP) of 5.4 ng mL (range 0.6–24.1). The results were compared with those in a group of healthy volunteers. Whereas sweet taste was detected by all patients, bitter could not be tasted by 21 patients and umami by 11 patients. Two and 23 patients showed hyposmia with results off the 10% and 50% percentiles of normal volunteers, respectively. Altogether, a distinct impairment of gustatory and olfactory senses was found in patients with psoriasis.

Considering the low number of patients, the correlation to PASI and CRP was barely significant. In addition, a normalization of sensory capacity in relation to therapeutic responses and improvement of psoriasis has to be monitored.

[jiml]

That’s an interesting study, I myself don’t think I have a problem with taste or smell, but would like to see a larger study undertaken

[Fred]

That’s an interesting study, I myself don’t think I have a problem with taste or smell, but would like to see a larger study undertaken

Yes I would like to see a larger study. As you know I lost my sense of smell after getting a bad flu bout a few years ago and it never did come back. Makes me wonder now if having psoriasis made it happen as Mrs Fred had the same bout of flu but never lost hers.  

[jiml]

That’s an interesting study, I myself don’t think I have a problem with taste or smell, but would like to see a larger study undertaken

Yes I would like to see a larger study. As you know I lost my sense of smell after getting a bad flu bout a few years ago and it never did come back. Makes me wonder now if having psoriasis made it happen as Mrs Fred had the same bout of flu but never lost hers.  

Yes You have written about your loss of smell and when I read this I wondered if there was a link to your problem

[Turnedlight]

I always knew I had no taste lol! Oh, you don't mean clothes..

Well, this is a strange one, I never thought I had any problems with my sense of taste or smell..

[jiml]

I always knew I had no taste lol! Oh, you don't mean clothes..

Well, this is a strange one, I never thought I had any problems with my sense of taste or smell..

[Awog]

Hello.  I finally decided to register after seeing your posts about psoriasis and sense of smell.  My sense of smell story relates to the use of Cosentyx.  I have tried a number of treatments for psoriasis after I went from a small spot in 2009 to approximately 80% body coverage within a few months.  Shortly thereafter, I developed psoriatic arthritis in my knees.  With a rheumotologist, I have tried Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, and most recently, Cosentyx.  Cosentyx was initially a miracle drug, giving me total clearance within the first month of treatment.  However, I discovered that shortly after each injection, my sense of smell changed for a brief period of time.  I experienced a decrease in sensitivity but I also experienced a change in smell.  Basically, I could only seem to smell bad odors.  Recently, this issue has become much more pronounced, to the point that my sense of smell has remained in an altered state and now all odors appear to be somewhat or very unpleasant.  As you can probably imagine, this does not promote an appetite since even good food smells unbearable.  In any event,  I wanted to say hi and let you know that you are not the only one.  I do not know if the smell issue is a result of the Cosentyx or a result of the rapid change my psoriasis has recently undergone.  While I have spent most of the last 8 years covered in plaque and guttate psoriasis, it has changed over the last two months to include both inverse and pustular psoriasis in areas that had never before been affected by the plaque and guttate psoriasis.  To top it off, I recently had to stop the Cosentyx because it has clearly ceased to provide any benefit while affecting my liver enzymes.  I’m hoping that my next Rheumotologist visit yields more results but I suppose we will see.  At this point, the next step is to try the new daily pill (I think it is called Otezla) to see if that works.  Thanks for reading, awog

[Fred]

Hello.  I finally decided to register after seeing your posts about psoriasis and sense of smell.  My sense of smell story relates to the use of Cosentyx.  I have tried a number of treatments for psoriasis after I went from a small spot in 2009 to approximately 80% body coverage within a few months.  Shortly thereafter, I developed psoriatic arthritis in my knees.  With a rheumotologist, I have tried Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, and most recently, Cosentyx.  Cosentyx was initially a miracle drug, giving me total clearance within the first month of treatment.  However, I discovered that shortly after each injection, my sense of smell changed for a brief period of time.  I experienced a decrease in sensitivity but I also experienced a change in smell.  Basically, I could only seem to smell bad odors.  Recently, this issue has become much more pronounced, to the point that my sense of smell has remained in an altered state and now all odors appear to be somewhat or very unpleasant.  As you can probably imagine, this does not promote an appetite since even good food smells unbearable.  In any event,  I wanted to say hi and let you know that you are not the only one.  I do not know if the smell issue is a result of the Cosentyx or a result of the rapid change my psoriasis has recently undergone.  While I have spent most of the last 8 years covered in plaque and guttate psoriasis, it has changed over the last two months to include both inverse and pustular psoriasis in areas that had never before been affected by the plaque and guttate psoriasis.  To top it off, I recently had to stop the Cosentyx because it has clearly ceased to provide any benefit while affecting my liver enzymes.  I’m hoping that my next Rheumotologist visit yields more results but I suppose we will see.  At this point, the next step is to try the new daily pill (I think it is called Otezla) to see if that works.  Thanks for reading, awog

I lost my smell a few years ago after a bad cold, so mine isn't down to the use of Cosentyx. It will be interesting to see if it gets any better for you once you stop using Cosentyx.

Like you though I am finding Cosentyx isn't great for the psoriasis, but I am currently trying 3 weeks between doses to see if it helps.

Good luck with Otezla you can read more about it here: Otezla

Welcome to Psoriasis Club by the way.  

[jiml]

Hi Awog and    to the club it must be worse to have your smell tainted than it is to lose it  
Sounds like you've had a rough time
Good luck with the otezla I hope it works for you and maybe restores your smell to normal



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[Bill]

Hi Awog,

Have you been examined for the cause of your change in sense of smell? Have you mentioned it to your specialist?

Cheers and welcome.