TY - JOUR
T1 - Systemic corticosteroids in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)‐related smell dysfunction: an international view
AU - Huart, Caroline
AU - Philpott, Carl M.
AU - Altundag, Aytug
AU - Fjaelstad, Alexander W.
AU - Frasnelli, Johannes
AU - Gane, Simon
AU - Hsieh, Julien W.
AU - Holbrook, Eric H.
AU - Konstantinidis, Iordanis
AU - Landis, Basile N.
AU - Macchi, Alberto
AU - Müller, Christian A.
AU - Negoias, Simona
AU - Pinto, Jayant M.
AU - Poletti, Sophia C.
AU - Ramakrishnan, Vijay R.
AU - Rombaux, Philippe
AU - Vodicka, Jan
AU - Welge-Luessen, Antje
AU - Whitcroft, Katherine L.
AU - Hummel, Thomas
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - The frequent association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and olfactory dysfunction is creating an unprecedented demand for a treatment of the olfactory loss. Systemic corticosteroids have been considered as a therapeutic option. However, based on current literature, we call for caution using these treatments in early COVID‐19–related olfactory dysfunction because: (1) evidence supporting their usefulness is weak; (2) the rate of spontaneous recovery of COVID‐19–related olfactory dysfunction is high; and (3) corticosteroids have well‐known potential adverse effects. We encourage randomized placebo‐controlled trials investigating the efficacy of systemic steroids in this indication and strongly emphasize to initially consider smell training, which is supported by a robust evidence base and has no known side effects.
AB - The frequent association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and olfactory dysfunction is creating an unprecedented demand for a treatment of the olfactory loss. Systemic corticosteroids have been considered as a therapeutic option. However, based on current literature, we call for caution using these treatments in early COVID‐19–related olfactory dysfunction because: (1) evidence supporting their usefulness is weak; (2) the rate of spontaneous recovery of COVID‐19–related olfactory dysfunction is high; and (3) corticosteroids have well‐known potential adverse effects. We encourage randomized placebo‐controlled trials investigating the efficacy of systemic steroids in this indication and strongly emphasize to initially consider smell training, which is supported by a robust evidence base and has no known side effects.
U2 - 10.1002/alr.22788
DO - 10.1002/alr.22788
M3 - Article
VL - 11
SP - 1041
EP - 1046
JO - International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology
JF - International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology
SN - 2042-6976
IS - 7
ER -