ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The object of the present study were to clarify the effect of dialysis treatment and residual renal function on olfactory function of patients with chronic renal failure and to assess the correlations between the Cross Cultural Smell Identification Test (CC-SIT) scores and various clinical variables. METHODS: Ninety subjects were studied and divided four groups; age- and sex-matched healthy controls (Control, n=20), patients with varying degree of renal insufficiency but not on dialysis (Pre- dialysis, n=20), patients on CAPD (PD, n=22), and patients on hemodialysis (HD, n=28). We performed olfactory function test using the CC-SIT kit and compared the CC-SIT scores of each of the groups. RESULTS: The CC-SIT scores of each of the groups were; Control : 8.6+/-1.5, Pre-dialysis : 7.2+/-2.0, PD : 8.1+/-1.2, HD : 8.5+/-1.4. In Pre-dialysis group, the CC-SIT scores were significantly lower than Control group (p=0.01). But, no significant difference was observed in the CC-SIT scores between HD and PD group and control group (p>0.05). Creatinine clearance was positively correlated with the CC-SIT scores in control and Pre-dialysis group (r=0.58, p= 0.0001). Total Kt/V was positively correlated with the CC-SIT scores only in HD group (r=0.39, p= 0.03). But, no correlation was found between Kt/ Vurea, URR or residual renal function and the CC- SIT scores in HD and PD group (p>0.05). Age was negatively correlated with the CC-SIT scores only in Control group (r=-0.76, p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that smell disturbance in patients with chronic renal faliure can be recovered by adequate dialysis treatment.