Frequency of Putative Enteric Zoster Diagnosed Using Saliva Samples in Patients With Abdominal Pain: a Prospective Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study is to identify the frequency of enteric zoster using salivary varicella zoster virus (VZV) DNA PCR in patients who visit the emergency room due to acute abdominal pain.

Detailed Description
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Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infects and establishes latency in neurons in the ganglia of the cranial nerve, dorsal root, and enteric ganglia. VZV reactivation in enteric neurons (enteric zoster) can cause nonspecific abdominal pain and/or serious gastrointestinal dysfunction without cutaneous manifestations. Detection of VZV DNA in saliva may be useful for identifying enteric zoster. We evaluated the frequency of putative enteric zoster based on the presence of salivary VZV DNA in patients with acute abdominal pain. Adult patients who visited the emergency room due to moderate to severe acute abdominal pain were prospectively enrolled at a tertiary hospital between May 2019 and November 2019. Abdominopelvic computed tomography (APCT) was performed in all patients. Saliva samples were collected from all studied patients. Enteric zoster was suspected based on the presence of salivary VZV DNA, detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Official Title
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Frequency of Putative Enteric Zoster Diagnosed Using Saliva Samples in Patients With Abdominal Pain: a Prospective Study

Conditions
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Abdominal Pain, Zoster With Other Complications

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Salivary VZV-DNA PCR


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients aged ≥ 18, and < 80 years ER-visited patients with acute abdominal pain Numerical rating scale (NRS) score ≥ 4 Unresponsive to gastrointestinal motility drug, antacid Exclusion Criteria: Unwilling or unable to give informed consent forms Patients taking antiviral agents Patients complaining mild abdominal pain (NRS score ≤ 3)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 79 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Patients with acute abdominal pain<br>Salivary VZV-DNA PCR was performed in patients who visited the emergency room due to acute abdominal pain. | Diagnostic Test: Salivary VZV-DNA PCR<br>* VZV-DNA PCR of saliva samples<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Frequency of enteric zoster in patients with acute abdominal pain | The frequency of putative enteric zoster in patients with acute abdominal pain regardless of their underlying diseases | At the time of enrolled. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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varicella zoster virus, enteric zoster, saliva