Long-COVID olfactory dysfunction: allele E4 of apolipoprotein E as a possible protective factor

Abstract: Background Olfactory dysfunction (OD) represents a frequent manifestation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a protein that interacts with the angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor, essential for viral entry into the cell. Previous publications have suggested a possible role of APOE in COVID-19 severity. As far as we know, no publications found significant associations between this disease's severity, OD, and APOE polymorphisms (E2, E3, and E4). Objective To analyze the epidemiology of OD and its relationship with APOE polymorphisms in a cohort of Long-COVID patients. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study with patients followed in a post-COVID neurological outpatient clinic, with OD being defined as a subjective reduction of olfactory function after infection, and persistent OD being defined when the complaint lasted more than 3 months after the COVID-19 infection resolution. This cross-sectional study is part of a large research with previously reported data focusing on the cognitive performance of our sample. Results The final sample comprised 221 patients, among whom 186 collected blood samples for APOE genotyping. The persistent OD group was younger and had a lower hospitalization rate during the acute phase of the disease (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the APOE variant E4 allele frequency was lower in this group (p = 0.035). This study evaluated OD in an outpatient population with COVID-19. In the current literature on this disease, anosmia is associated with better clinical outcomes and the E4 allele is associated with worse outcomes. Conclusion Our study provides new information to these correlations, suggesting APOE E4 as a protective factor for OD.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Weitere Titel: Disfunção olfativa na COVID longa: o alelo E4 da apolipoproteína E como um possível fator protetor
• Standort: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Umfang: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Long-COVID olfactory dysfunction: allele E4 of apolipoprotein E as a possible protective factor ; volume:82 ; number:09 ; year:2024 ; pages:001-007 ; Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria ; 82, Heft 09 (2024), 001-007

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Beteiligte Personen und Organisationen: Oliveira, Danilo Nunes ; Tavares-Júnior, José Wagner Leonel ; Feitosa, Werbety Lucas Queiroz ; Cunha, Letícia Chaves Vieira ; Gomes, Carmem Meyve Pereira ; Moreira-Nunes, Caroline Aquino ; Silva, Jean Breno Silveira da ; Sousa, Artur Victor Menezes ; Gaspar, Safira de Brito ; Sobreira, Emmanuelle Silva Tavares ; Oliveira, Laís Lacerda Brasil de ; Montenegro, Raquel Carvalho ; Moraes, Maria Elisabete Amaral de ; Sobreira-Neto, Manoel Alves ; Braga-Neto, Pedro

Weitere Informationen

• DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1788272
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2412121031539.072406140633
• Rechteinformation: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 15.08.2025, 07:35 MESZ