Value of the 14C-D-xylose breath test in patients with intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
18 control subjects and 18 patients, with a variety of gastrointestinal conditions were investigated using a 10-muCi 14C-D-xylose breath test. The latter also underwent quantitative bacterial studies of fluid obtained by intestinal intubation. In 14 patients a smaller dose of 3 muCi 14C-D-xylose was compared to the standard dose and there was a good correlation between the two doses. The peak value of the 14C-D-xylose test provided the best discrimination between patients with and without bacterial overgrowth. The 14C-glycocholic acid test performed in 15 patients, although as sensitive, was less discriminating. The 14C-D-xylose breath test is reliable and more specific in confirming the diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth without having to resort to direct bacterial studies.
D001944:Breath Tests; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D006016:Glycolates; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D007082:Ileum / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000601:surgery; D014994:Xylose
D006016:Glycolates; C031149:glycolic acid; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D014994:Xylose