Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32914699›Full record

ReviewThe Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry2021

Anosmia in COVID-19: Underlying Mechanisms and Assessment of an Olfactory Route to Brain Infection.

Rafal Butowt, Christopher S von Bartheld

3 registry-linked trialsOpen access · greenAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 187 papers, 17 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
187citing papers in PubMed, 17 pooled it
21.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05184192 phase2completednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Efficacy of Gabapentin for Post-Covid-19 Olfactory Dysfunction

TypeinterventionalSponsorWashington University School of MedicineRan2022 to 2023Enrolled68ConditionsCOVID-19, Olfactory Disorder, Anosmia, HyposmiaArmsGabapentin gelatin capsules 300mg, Placebo
NCT05269030 phase2unknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

The Potential Therapeutic Effect of Ivermectin Nasal Drops in the Treatment of Post COVID-19 Parosmia

TypeinterventionalSponsorMenoufia UniversityRan2022 to 2023Enrolled60ConditionsParosmiaArmsIvermectin Topical, Budesonide Nasal
NCT06883513 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy(OMT) Effects on Post-Acute Sequalae of COVID-19(PASC)

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of LouisvilleRan2025 to 2025Enrolled20ConditionsLong-COVID, PASC, Long COVID SyndromeArmsOsteopathic Manipulative Therapy Long-COVID protocol, Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy NOT Long-COVID treatment protocol
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

187 citing papers in PubMed, 17 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 361 citations in OpenAlex.

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  8. Systematic review and meta-analysis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in COVID-19.International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases · 2022
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  18. Trial
  19. Neurodegenerative and Cognitive Consequences of Long COVID.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
  20. Effect of intranasal vitamin A nanoparticles on persistent olfactory dysfunction: a randomized clinical trial.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
    Article

127 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Rafal ButowtDepartment of Molecular Cell Genetics, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland.ORCID 0000-0001-9614-4022
Christopher S von BartheldCenter of Biomedical Research Excellence in Cell Biology, Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2716-6601
Nicolaus Copernicus University · PLUniversity of Nevada, Reno · US

Funding

Cell Biology of Signaling across MembranesP20GM103554 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO · PI VON BARTHELD, CHRISTOPHER S · 2012 to 2016
$8.0M
NIGMS NIH HHS P20 GM103554
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In recent months it has emerged that the novel coronavirus-responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic-causes reduction of smell and taste in a large fraction of patients. The chemosensory deficits are often the earliest, and sometimes the only signs in otherwise asymptomatic carriers of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The reasons for the surprisingly early and specific chemosensory dysfunction in COVID-19 are now beginning to be elucidated. In this hypothesis review, we discuss implications of the recent finding that the prevalence of smell and taste dysfunction in COVID-19 patients differs between populations, possibly because of differences in the spike protein of different virus strains or because of differences in the host proteins that enable virus entry, thus modifying infectivity. We review recent progress in defining underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of the virus-induced anosmia, with a focus on the emerging crucial role of sustentacular cells in the olfactory epithelium. We critically examine the current evidence whether and how the SARS-CoV-2 virus can follow a route from the olfactory epithelium in the nose to the brain to achieve brain infection, and we discuss the prospects for using the smell and taste dysfunctions seen in COVID-19 as an early and rapid diagnostic screening tool.

Indexed as

Olfactory PerceptionAnimalsAnosmiaBrainCOVID-19HumansNasal MucosaSmellACE2anosmiabrain infectionCOVID-19diagnosishyposmiaolfactory epitheliumprevalenceSARS-CoV-2smell losstaste

Identifiers

PMID32914699
PMCPMC7488171
OpenAlexW3084613638

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.