This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 36/8/1690    most recent 01.STR.0000173174.79773.d3v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Heckmann, J. G. Articles by Hummel, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Heckmann, J. G. Articles by Hummel, T. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Stroke Taste and Smell Disorders

(Stroke. 2005;36:1690.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Taste Disorders in Acute Stroke

A Prospective Observational Study on Taste Disorders in 102 Stroke Patients

Josef G. Heckmann, MD; Christina Stössel, MD; Christoph J.G. Lang, MD; Bernhard Neundörfer, MD; Bernd Tomandl, MD Thomas Hummel, MD

From the Departments of Neurology (J.G.H., C.S., C.J.G.L, B.N.) and Neuroradiology (B.T.), University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany; the Smell & Taste Clinic (T.H.), and the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Germany.

Correspondence to Josef G. Heckmann, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. E-mail josef.heckmann{at}neuro.imed.uni-erlangen.de

Background and Purpose— The aim of the study was to assess whether and how frequently patients with acute first-ever stroke exhibit gustatory dysfunction.

Methods— We performed a 1-year prospective observational study. Gustatory function was assessed using the standardized "taste strips" test. In addition, we assessed olfactory function, swallowing, stroke location, comorbidities, and the patients’ medication.

Results— A total of 102 consecutive patients were enrolled (45 female, 57 male; mean age, 63 years); 31 of them (30%) exhibited gustatory loss and 7 (6%) had lateralized impairment of taste function. Predictors of impaired taste function were male gender (P=0.003), high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission (P=0.009), coexisting swallowing dysfunction (P=0.026), and a stroke of partial anterior circulation subtype (PACS) (P=0.008). In particular, in hypogeusic patients the lesion was most frequently localized in the frontal lobe (P=0.009). Follow-up examinations in 14 patients indicated improvement of taste sensitivity.

Conclusion— Taste disorders after stroke are frequent. A significant association was found for male gender, high NIHSS score, swallowing disorder, and PACS, particularly in the frontal lobe. Generally, taste disorders after stroke seem to have a good prognosis.

Key Words: stroke • stroke management • taste

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