VZV in the Enteric Nervous System: Pathogenesis and Consequences (NCT05550194)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
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.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, Tennessee
Age range: 18 Years to 75 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, Tennessee
📞 Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (615) 322-4643
Email: michael.g.mcgill@vumc.org
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
More studies in Achalasia
- Minimally Invasive Surgery of the Gastro-esophageal Junction — Ottawa, Ontario
- Disposable Endoscope Platform in Third Space Endoscopic Procedures — Houston, Texas
- Comprehensive Esophageal Diagnostics Study — Atlanta, Georgia
- POEM-F for Achalasia International Study — Baltimore, Maryland
- Prospective Evaluation of the Clinical Utility of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders — Orlando, Florida
Explore by condition: All Achalasia clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.