How reliable are the 14C-urea breath test and specific serology for the detection of gastric Campylobacter?
Detection of gastric Campylobacter by the 14C-urea breath test and serology were correlated to biopsy culture in 25 unselected outpatients referred for gastroscopy. All the 17 culture-positive patients had positive 14C-urea breath test, and 16 had positive serology. Of eight culture-negative patients, six patients had negative breath test and seven negative serology. A high degree of reproducibility was found when two subsequent breath tests were performed in 11 healthy volunteers. The breath test values obtained at 10 min showed a strong correlation (r = 0.97, p less than 0.001) to the accumulated values within 30 min. Breath sampling once, 10 min after intake of 2.5 microCi 14C-urea, seems sufficient for the detection of gastric Campylobacter. The 14C-urea breath test correlates well with biopsy culture and provides a sensitive tool for the detection of gastric Campylobacter. Serology also corresponds well with biopsy culture and should provide a useful tool for epidemiologic studies.
Dept. of Internal Medicine, Ullevål Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
E
E
Husebye
D
D
O'Leary
V
V
Skar
K
K
Melby
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D014508:Urea