Mechanisms of Gulf War Illness

Description

Many veterans with Gulf War Illness developed chronic gastrointestinal symptoms during their deployment to the Persian Gulf. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of these chronic gastrointestinal symptoms are not well understood but cause significant morbidity in veterans. Our proposed studies will provide an innovative and novel treatment trial for chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in veterans with Gulf War Illness that were deployed into war zones. Given that there are currently no specific treatments for these disorders, and that current symptomatic approaches are far from ideal, proof of principle of our trial would be an extremely important advance as it would not only have a beneficial impact on the health of many thousands of our veterans, but also it would substantially reduce the many negative economic effects of this ailment on the VA Health Care System.

Conditions

Gulf War Illness, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Gastrointestinal Symptoms

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Many veterans with Gulf War Illness developed chronic gastrointestinal symptoms during their deployment to the Persian Gulf. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of these chronic gastrointestinal symptoms are not well understood but cause significant morbidity in veterans. Our proposed studies will provide an innovative and novel treatment trial for chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in veterans with Gulf War Illness that were deployed into war zones. Given that there are currently no specific treatments for these disorders, and that current symptomatic approaches are far from ideal, proof of principle of our trial would be an extremely important advance as it would not only have a beneficial impact on the health of many thousands of our veterans, but also it would substantially reduce the many negative economic effects of this ailment on the VA Health Care System.

Mechanisms of Gulf War Illness

Mechanisms of Gulf War Illness

Condition
Gulf War Illness
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Memphis

Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN, Memphis, Tennessee, United States, 38104-2127

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. Veterans 18-65 years old with GWI and chronic GI symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating) that started during their deployment in the Persian Gulf
  • 2. Veterans 18-65 years old with GWI and chronic GI symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating)
  • 3. increased intestinal permeability on the lactulose/mannitol permeability test (ratio \>0.07)
  • 4. able and willing to cooperate with the study
  • 1. current participation in another research protocol or unable to give informed consent
  • 2. women with a positive urine pregnancy test or breastfeeding
  • 3. history of inflammatory bowel disease, lactose intolerance and/or celiac sprue
  • 4. + hydrogen breath test for bacterial overgrowth
  • 5. + anti-endomysial antibody titer
  • 6. use of NSAIDs 2 weeks before or during the study
  • 7. known allergy to glutamine or whey protein
  • 8. abdominal surgery except for removal of gallbladder, uterus, or appendix \>6 months prior to entry into the study
  • 9. Abnormal serum BUN and/or creatinine
  • 10. Mannitol recovery out of the normal range of 5-25 U/g
  • 11. history of kidney disease
  • 12. allergies to monosodium glutamate
  • 13. current use of anti-seizure medications

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

QiQi Zhou, MD PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN

George N Verne, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN

Study Record Dates

2027-07-31