To date there is no brain imaging and olfactory data available in COVID-19 positive patients with anosmia. By describing the pathophysiological characteristics underlying the olfactory symptoms and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 infection, the study investigators wish to compare the MRI aspects obtained in COVID-19 patients with and without anosmia, in the absence of other underlying neurological disorders.
Brain mapping of COVID-19 patients with or without anosmia will allow better understanding of
the mechanisms leading to the onset of these symptoms and will provide a pathophysiological
basis for the therapeutic interventions to improve the clinical prognosis of affected
patients.
The study investigators hypothesize that in COVID-19 patients witch anosmia the brain mapping
objectified by an MRI examination is modified and that there are functional abnormalities in
the brain in these patients.
Other: Brain MRI scan
Resting state, functional, structural and morphometric MRI; diffusion tensor imaging on a 3-Tesla MRI scanner
Inclusion Criteria:
- Consecutive adult patients consulting the CAREB or hospitalized at the Nîmes teaching
hospital due to COVID-19 infection (fever, persistent cough, tiredness, shortness of
breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain, chest pain, sore throat, loss of smell or taste)
- COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR and / or chest CT or clinical characteristics (i.e an
epidemic history and 2 clinical manifestations or at least 3 clinical manifestations)
- The patient must have given their free and informed consent and signed the consent
form
- The patient must be a member or beneficiary of a health insurance plan "with anosmia"
group:
- scoring < 30 on a VAS 0-100 for olfactory ability
- Responding "yes" to question "have you lost your sense of smell in the last few days?"
- Negative result to olfactory test with n-Butanol diluted to 1/1000. "without anosmia"
group:
- scoring < 80 on a VAS 0-100 for olfactory ability
- Responding "no" to question "have you lost your sense of smell in the last few days?"
- Positive result to olfactory test with n-Butanol diluted to 1/16000.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patient suffering from serious medical problems or hospitalized in an intensive care
unit for invasive ventilation or severe dyspnea.
- Patient with neurological (motor, sensitive or cognitive), neuropsychiatric or
vascular disorders.
- Patient with a contraindication to MRI (pace maker, claustrophobic patient, metallic
heart valve, etc.).
- Patient with a history of rhinological pathology or a sense of smell problem.
- Patient with known neurological, psychiatric or neuroradiological manifestation.The
subject is participating in a category 1 interventional study, or is in a period of
exclusion determined by a previous study
- The subject is unable to express consent
- It is impossible to give the subject informed information
- The patient is under safeguard of justice or state guardianship
- Patient is pregnant, parturient or breastfeeding
CHU de Nimes
Nîmes, France
Benjamin Lallemant, Principal Investigator
CHU Nimes