Achalasia Is Not Associated with Measles or Known Herpes and Human Papilloma Viruses

Abstract
Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder ofunknown etiology. Several studies suggest possibleherpes or measles virus etiology, but results areinconclusive. The aim of this study was to test whether herpesvirus (HV), measles (MV), or humanpapilloma virus (HPV) sequences could be detected inmyotomy specimens from a wide spectrum of achalasiapatients, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)technique. Myotomy specimens from 13 achalasia patients,esophagectomy specimens from nine esophageal cancerpatients, and autopsy specimens from six fetuses werestudied with the PCR technique. Paired oligonucleotide primers of HV (HSV-1 and 2, CMV, EBV, VZV, andHHV-6), MV, and HPV sequences and exon 3 of the HPRTgene were used for the PCR DNA amplification. Amplifiedproducts were resolved on agarose gels and stained with ethidium bromide. All specimens yieldedthe appropriate-sized products for exon 3 of the HPRTand viral controls. No amplified products were seen inthe achalasia specimens or controls corresponding to any of the virus sequences tested. Theabsence of HV, MV, and HPV sequences suggests that theseviruses are not associated with achalasia but does notexclude the possibility of a previously unidentified virus as a causal agent. Further studies aimedat identifying an unknown viral agent as a cause forachalasia are warranted.