Olfactory Dysfunction in Patients with Minamata Disease

Abstract

We studied the olfactory functions of organic mercury poisoning (Minamata disease) by using both the smell identification test and the olfactory detection threshold test (with phenyl ethyl alcohol). The subjects were 19 patients with Minamata disease who were treated in Meisuien, Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan and include cases that developed the disease in utero. The mean age was 78.7 ± 14.3 years old. Both smell identification and olfactory detection tests in the majority of patients decreased significantly compared with those of healthy elder subjects. A few cases showed normal olfactory identification and detection functions. The olfactory identification function deceased with advancing age. Correlation existed between detection threshold and backgroundfactors such as age and duration after documented Minamata disease was found. No significant relationship was identified between olfactory function and the typical symptoms of Minamata disease. (Am J Rhinology 8: 259-263, 1994)

Olfactory dysfunction and its measurement in the clinic and workplace

“…to 85 lg, with decline afterwards No differences between groups after adjusting for age and other possible confounders UPSIT Furuta et al (1994) In cadmium-related adverse effect on detection threshold sensitivity, and no evidence of pathologic alterations of either the olfactory or nasal respiratory epithelia was found. Pathology was described, however, in other tissues (e.g., lung, heart).…”

Olfactory toxicity: long-term effects of occupational exposures

“…Clinical cases of hyposmia and anosmia were observed in retired mine workers, heavily exposed to arsenic during their working period (Ishinishi et al 1977;Kawasaki et al 2002). Furthermore, hyposmia is one of the clinical manifestations of organic mercury intoxication observed in patients with Minamata disease (Furuta et al 1994;Hamada and Osame 1996). Nevertheless, as epidemiological studies based on quantitative olfactory function testing in workers chronically exposed to these metals are lacking, the effect of chronic occupational exposure on smell is to be confirmed.…”

Characterization of pathological changes in the olfactory system of mice exposed to methylmercury

“…Patients with MD present with olfactory disorders such as hyposmia and parosmia (Furuta et al 1994 ). Hyposmia is a quantitative dysfunction that reduces the ability to smell and detect odors.…”

“…Consistent with these lesions, patients with MD develop characteristic signs and symptoms including ataxia, visual field constriction, and somatosensory and auditory disturbances (Harada 1995 ). Several studies have also shown that patients with MD exhibit olfactory dysfunction (Furuta et al 1994 ). However, the causative lesions have not been thoroughly investigated, and how MeHg affects the olfactory system remains unclear.…”