Recent research conducted by Professor Zara Patel, MD of Otolaryngology at Stanford Medicine, suggests that platelet-rich plasma injections may be a potential treatment for long-term, COVID-19-related smell loss. A 2022 survey revealed that around 15% of individuals who experienced smell loss from the virus still had difficulties six months later. As a result, a trial of 26 participants was conducted to test the efficacy of the treatment. Results from the trial showed that those who received the injections were 12.5 times more likely to improve than those who were given a placebo.
The cause of the smell loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 is attributed to damage to sustentacular cells, which have the ACE-2 receptor the virus uses to infect cells. These cells play a crucial role in nerve regeneration, so inflammation and damage to these cells can lead to long-term loss of function. The platelet-rich plasma injections are thought to help regenerate tissue due to the high concentrations of platelets and growth factors. Although Patel was initially skeptical of its healing capabilities, a study revealed that platelet-rich plasma injections were as effective as surgery in treating carpal tunnel syndrome.
With the trial, Patel hopes to help the 9 million people in the US who are still affected by smell loss from the virus, as well as uncover the mystery of how the virus caused the smell loss in the first place. If the treatment is successful, it could offer a potential solution to those struggling with long-term smell loss due to COVID-19.