Idiopathic Hypogeusia With Dysgeusia, Hyposmia, and Dysosmia

Thirty-five patients with decreased taste acuity (hypogeusia) and decreased olfactory acuity (hyposmia) with or without perverted taste (dysgeusia) and perverted smell (dysosmia) had elevated median detection and recognition thresholds for the taste of salt, sweet, sour, and bitter, and abnormal forced scaling of taste qualities. Electron micrographs of taste receptors showed pathological changes in the taste buds of these patients. No apparent cause could be found for this disturbing and unpleasant symptom complex. These abnormalities appear to comprise a new syndrome which we have termed idiopathic hypogeusia with dysgeusia, hyposmia, and dysosmia.