Platelet-Rich Plasma for Patients with Olfactory Dysfunction: Myth or Reality? A Systematic Review

Background: With promising outcomes, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has recently been suggested as a treatment for olfactory dysfunction (OD).

Methods: Clinical studies utilizing PRP in OD caused by COVID-19, trauma, anesthetic exposure, viral infection, and chronic rhinosinusitis were included in a systematic review.

Results: Ten clinical studies were qualitatively analyzed. Six of these studies used the PRP for OD caused by COVID-19, one on OD after functional endoscopic sinus surgery, and three on post-infectious or post-trauma OD. The population included 531 patients, ranging in age from 15 to 63.

Conclusion: The use of PRP may be a risk-free and efficient therapeutic option with very encouraging outcomes. Indeed, it enhances olfactory perception in patients who not only exhibit COVID-19 infection aftereffects, but also in those who have lost their sense of smell due to trauma, rhinosinusitis, rhinitis, or even surgery. To evaluate the PRP's therapeutic benefits in OD patients and to compare the efficacy of different therapeutic protocols with regard to treatment schedules, there is an urgent need for focused controlled trials.