Systematic review finds platelet-rich plasma significantly enhances olfactory function in post-COVID-19 patients, suggesting its role as a therapeutic option.
Background Persistent olfactory dysfunction (OD) following COVID-19 remains a significant health concern. This study evaluates platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a treatment for chronic, treatment-resistant post-COVID-19 OD.Forest plot of total TDI score at the longest follow upForest plot of discrimination Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases through November 28, 2024, for studies on patients with post-COVID-19 OD unresponsive to standard treatments, treated with PRP injections into the olfactory clefts compared to placebo. The main outcome was the change in Sniffin’ Sticks TDI (threshold, discrimination, identification) scores. Pooled mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Results Five studies including 330 patients were analyzed, with 171 in the PRP group and 159 in the placebo group. PRP significantly improved total TDI scores over placebo (MD = 4.53, 95% CI: [2.29, 6.78], P < 0.001) and specifically improved taste discrimination (MD = 2.02, 95% CI: [0.97, 3.06], P < 0.001). However, changes in taste threshold and identification were not significant (P = 0.28 and P = 0.14, respectively). Conclusion PRP significantly enhances TDI scores in chronic post-COVID-19 OD patients, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic option for this challenging condition. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures
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Elkasaby et al. (2026) studied this question.
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