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Rapid Development of Achalasia After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis of Esophageal Muscle
Salih Samo1, Falak Hamo1, Ameer Hamza2
1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Motility, The University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
Introduction:
Achalasia has been linked to viruses. We have observed cases of rapid-developing achalasia post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Methods:
We aimed to prospectively evaluate esophageal muscle for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) from patients with rapid-onset achalasia post-COVID-19 and compare them with achalasia predating COVID-19 and achalasia with no COVID-19.
Results:
Compared with long-standing achalasia predating COVID-19 and long-standing achalasia with no COVID-19, the subjects with achalasia post-COVID-19 had significantly higher levels of messenger RNA for the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein, which correlated with a significant increase in the inflammatory markers NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 and tumor necrosis factor.
Discussion:
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is a possible trigger for achalasia.
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