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VZV in the Enteric Nervous System: Pathogenesis and Consequences
Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Summary
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the cause of chickenpox and shingles, but it also infects, becomes latent, and reactivates in nerve cells of the bowel to cause a gastrointestinal disorder ("enteric shingles"). The Investigators recently found that a chronic active VZV infection, a form of enteric shingles, is associated with achalasia, a severe disease in which the passage of food from esophagus to stomach is impaired. We now propose to eradicate VZV to determine whether its association with achalasia is causal, to identify the genetic basis behind VZV reactivation in the esophagus, and the relationship of mast cells to enteric shingles and abdominal pain.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 75 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
40
Start Date
2023-03-27
Completion Date
2026-08
Last Updated
2025-05-16
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
ValACYclovir 1000 MG
Valacyclcovir is a targeted anti-viral for varicella zoster virus (VZV).
Shingrix
Vaccine indicated for prevention of herpes zoster
Locations (1)
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States