Two-stage triolein breath test differentiates pancreatic insufficiency from other causes of malabsorption.
In 24 patients with malabsorption, [14C]triolein breath tests were conducted before and together with the administration of pancreatic enzymes (Pancrease, Johnson and Johnson, Skillman, N.J.). Eleven patients with pancreatic insufficiency had a significant rise in peak percent dose per hour 14CO2 excretion after Pancrease, whereas 13 patients with other causes of malabsorption had no increase in 14CO2 excretion (2.61 +/- 0.96 vs. 0.15 +/- 0.45, p less than 0.001). The two-stage [14C]triolein breath test appears to be an accurate and simple noninvasive test of fat malabsorption that differentiates steatorrhea secondary to pancreatic insufficiency from other causes of steatorrhea.
D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D010194:Pancreatin; D014304:Triolein
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D014304:Triolein; D010194:Pancreatin