From the Guidelines
There is no direct relationship established between Hyposmia and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in the provided evidence. However, considering the potential for systemic inflammation in SLE to affect various bodily systems, it is plausible that hyposmia could occur in patients with SLE due to inflammation affecting the olfactory nerves or as a side effect of medications used to treat lupus. If you're experiencing hyposmia with lupus, consult your rheumatologist who may adjust your current lupus medications like hydroxychloroquine, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressants to help reduce inflammation that could be affecting your sense of smell 1. Nasal saline irrigation twice daily can help clear nasal passages and reduce local inflammation. For symptomatic relief, consider olfactory training using essential oils like rose, lemon, clove, and eucalyptus for 20 seconds each, twice daily for at least 12 weeks. Avoid nasal irritants such as smoke, strong chemicals, and allergens. The most recent and highest quality study provided is from 2024, which focuses on the non-pharmacological management of SLE and does not directly address the relationship between hyposmia and SLE 1. Given the lack of direct evidence, the management of hyposmia in SLE patients should prioritize reducing inflammation and avoiding irritants, based on the principles of managing SLE and its potential effects on the body 1.
Some key points to consider in managing SLE and potentially related hyposmia include:
- Photoprotection to prevent flares 1
- Psychosocial interventions for improving HRQoL, anxiety, and depressive symptoms 1
- Aerobic exercise for increasing aerobic capacity and reducing fatigue and depressive symptoms 1
- Patient education and self-management support for improving hand function, mouth-related outcomes, HRQoL, and ability to perform daily activities 1
From the Research
Relationship Between Hyposmia and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
- There are no research papers provided that directly investigate the relationship between hyposmia and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The available studies focus on various aspects of SLE, including disease activity measures 2, hydroxychloroquine non-adherence 3, patient-reported outcomes 4, lupus low disease activity state and remission 5, and relationships between remission, disease activity, and patient-reported outcome measures 6.
- None of these studies mention hyposmia, which is a reduced ability to smell, in relation to SLE.
- Therefore, based on the provided evidence, there is no information available to determine a relationship between hyposmia and SLE.