# Effects of COVID-19 in Patients with Gastroparesis: A GpCRC Supplement

> **NIH NIH U01** · TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH · 2020 · $352,133

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a disease caused by infection with Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), commonly presents with symptoms including fever, cough, and
shortness of breath. Some patients have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after developing gastrointestinal
(GI) symptoms either solely or in conjunction with pulmonary symptoms. This may be due to SARS-CoV-2
infection of the GI tract or a systemic effect from the respiratory viral infection. In patients with chronic GI
illnesses, such as gastroparesis, COVID-19 may present as a flare of their underlying GI condition as
viruses have historically been implicated in exacerbations of chronic GI disorders, including gastroparesis.
Some patients with no underlying GI conditions have been diagnosed with COVID-19 after presenting
predominantly with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. They may be at risk for developing post-viral
gastroparesis, which is an important and poorly understood potential chronic inflammation-based cause of
“idiopathic gastroparesis”. The NIH Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium (GpCRC), consisting of six
clinical centers and its Scientific and Data Research Center (SDRC), is following the largest number of
patients with gastroparesis and dyspepsia symptoms. These patients are well phenotyped. In addition to
detailed physiological phenotyping, every 6 months we obtain detailed questionnaires, and store plasma
and serum. The overall goals of this supplemental grant are to determine if COVID-19 affects clinical
course of patients with gastroparesis and whether COVID-19 is associated with development of
post-infection gastroparesis and/or functional dyspepsia. We will accomplish these goals by
undertaking the following three specific aims involving patients in our gastroparesis registry. Aim 1.
Determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with confirmed gastroparesis to help assess
if SARS-CoV-2 infection disproportionately affects patients with gastroparesis compared to general
community population in same geographic location. Aim 2: Determine if COVID-19 affects the clinical
course of patients with gastroparesis by causing more flares than usual, increasing the severity of
gastroparesis symptoms, and decreasing gastric emptying. Aim 3: Characterize patients developing new
onset gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia after COVID-19 in patients. Currently, the GpCRC is the only
large, NIH-funded registry of patients with chronic GI symptoms from gastric dysmotility (gastroparesis). The
GI epithelial involvement with SARS-CoV-2 as well as the existing rationale that such infections can led to
chronic gut dysfunction, makes GpCRC ideally poised to conduct this research. This research project will be
accomplished within 1 year timeline to produce impactful clinical data to understand GI implications of
SARS-CoV-2 infection. This proposed study will be implemented at all six clinical sites of the GpCRC with
SDRC for coord...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10179037
- **Project number:** 3U01DK073975-15S2
- **Recipient organization:** TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** HENRY PAUL PARKMAN
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $352,133
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2006-04-15 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10179037

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10179037, Effects of COVID-19 in Patients with Gastroparesis: A GpCRC Supplement (3U01DK073975-15S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10179037. Licensed CC0.

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