Viral Etiologies and Histopathological Features of Olfactory Dysfunction: A Systematic Review
ABSTRACT Background and Aim Olfactory dysfunction associated with viral infections, including the recent SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, has raised significant clinical interest. Understanding the viral etiologies and histopathological characteristics of permanent olfactory dysfunction is essential for optimiz...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70917 |
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| author | Kimia Motlagh Asghari Nasim Kakavand Mahdieh Taiyeb Khosroshahi Sina Janbaz Alamdari Shaghayegh Karami Mehran Jaberinezhad |
| author_facet | Kimia Motlagh Asghari Nasim Kakavand Mahdieh Taiyeb Khosroshahi Sina Janbaz Alamdari Shaghayegh Karami Mehran Jaberinezhad |
| author_sort | Kimia Motlagh Asghari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background and Aim Olfactory dysfunction associated with viral infections, including the recent SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, has raised significant clinical interest. Understanding the viral etiologies and histopathological characteristics of permanent olfactory dysfunction is essential for optimizing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This systematic review aims to synthesize the available evidence on the histopathological features of viral‐induced permanent olfactory dysfunction. By focusing on direct viral damage, inflammatory responses, and vascular changes, this study seeks to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of post‐viral olfactory impairment. Methods This systematic review adhered to PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024520500). Searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to February 14, 2024. Inclusion criteria encompassed observational studies investigating human subjects diagnosed with permanent olfactory dysfunction attributable to viral etiologies. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data using predefined forms, and assessed study quality using NOS, STROBE, and JBI tools. Results Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Predominant viral etiologies included SARS‐CoV‐2 and common cold viruses (e.g., adenovirus). Diagnostic tools varied but commonly included clinical evaluations and validated olfactory tests. Histopathological findings revealed diverse nasal tissue alterations, such as mucosal atrophy, inflammatory infiltrates, and neuroepithelial degeneration. SARS‐CoV‐2 infections demonstrated distinctive neuroepithelial and endothelial pathology contributing to olfactory dysfunction. Conclusion Viral‐induced permanent olfactory dysfunction involves multifaceted histopathological changes, including direct viral neuroinvasion and inflammatory responses. Understanding these pathophysiological mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted interventions and managing long‐term sequelae of viral infections affecting olfaction. This systematic review, the first conducted on this topic, underscores the need for further research on viral etiologies beyond COVID‐19, as they are currently understudied. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ad7549d685dd4f528b89e78d6fed99d8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-ad7549d685dd4f528b89e78d6fed99d82025-08-20T03:32:42ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-06-0186n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70917Viral Etiologies and Histopathological Features of Olfactory Dysfunction: A Systematic ReviewKimia Motlagh Asghari0Nasim Kakavand1Mahdieh Taiyeb Khosroshahi2Sina Janbaz Alamdari3Shaghayegh Karami4Mehran Jaberinezhad5Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz IranFaculty of Medicine Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Isfahan IranResearch Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz IranFaculty of Medicine Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz IranFaculty of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran IranClinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz IranABSTRACT Background and Aim Olfactory dysfunction associated with viral infections, including the recent SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, has raised significant clinical interest. Understanding the viral etiologies and histopathological characteristics of permanent olfactory dysfunction is essential for optimizing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This systematic review aims to synthesize the available evidence on the histopathological features of viral‐induced permanent olfactory dysfunction. By focusing on direct viral damage, inflammatory responses, and vascular changes, this study seeks to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of post‐viral olfactory impairment. Methods This systematic review adhered to PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024520500). Searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to February 14, 2024. Inclusion criteria encompassed observational studies investigating human subjects diagnosed with permanent olfactory dysfunction attributable to viral etiologies. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data using predefined forms, and assessed study quality using NOS, STROBE, and JBI tools. Results Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Predominant viral etiologies included SARS‐CoV‐2 and common cold viruses (e.g., adenovirus). Diagnostic tools varied but commonly included clinical evaluations and validated olfactory tests. Histopathological findings revealed diverse nasal tissue alterations, such as mucosal atrophy, inflammatory infiltrates, and neuroepithelial degeneration. SARS‐CoV‐2 infections demonstrated distinctive neuroepithelial and endothelial pathology contributing to olfactory dysfunction. Conclusion Viral‐induced permanent olfactory dysfunction involves multifaceted histopathological changes, including direct viral neuroinvasion and inflammatory responses. Understanding these pathophysiological mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted interventions and managing long‐term sequelae of viral infections affecting olfaction. This systematic review, the first conducted on this topic, underscores the need for further research on viral etiologies beyond COVID‐19, as they are currently understudied.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70917anosmiahistopathological featureshyposmiaolfactory dysfunctionviral etiology |
| spellingShingle | Kimia Motlagh Asghari Nasim Kakavand Mahdieh Taiyeb Khosroshahi Sina Janbaz Alamdari Shaghayegh Karami Mehran Jaberinezhad Viral Etiologies and Histopathological Features of Olfactory Dysfunction: A Systematic Review Health Science Reports anosmia histopathological features hyposmia olfactory dysfunction viral etiology |
| title | Viral Etiologies and Histopathological Features of Olfactory Dysfunction: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Viral Etiologies and Histopathological Features of Olfactory Dysfunction: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Viral Etiologies and Histopathological Features of Olfactory Dysfunction: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Viral Etiologies and Histopathological Features of Olfactory Dysfunction: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Viral Etiologies and Histopathological Features of Olfactory Dysfunction: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | viral etiologies and histopathological features of olfactory dysfunction a systematic review |
| topic | anosmia histopathological features hyposmia olfactory dysfunction viral etiology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70917 |
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