The lactulose hydrogen breath test as a measure of orocaecal transit time.
OBJECTIVE
To establish normal values and assess the reproducibility of the lactulose hydrogen breath test in measuring orocaecal transit time in control subjects, and to report results in a group of patients with chronic constipation as a result of colonic inertia.


METHODS
Open study.


METHODS
Academic clinic.


METHODS
42 Control subjects (29 women and 13 men) in 25 of whom the test was repeated within 2-4 weeks, and 19 patients.


METHODS
Lactulose hydrogen breath test.


METHODS
Sustained increase in hydrogen production of 3 ppm or more.


RESULTS
Coefficient of variation within subjects was 8% compared with 38% between subjects; 3 of the control subjects (7%) and 3 of the patients (16%) did not ferment lactulose, the the incidence was similar in men (1/13, 8%) and women (2/29, 7%). Mean (SD) orocaecal transit time was significantly shorter among the 29 women (60 (27) minutes) than among the 11 men (89 (24) minutes) (p < 0.005). There were no significant differences between men in the control group and those with constipation.


CONCLUSIONS
The lactulose hydrogen breath test is valuable to assess orocaecal transit time. It is simple, non-invasive, and reproducible, and may be of value in differentiating between generalised hypomotility and colonic inertia.
Jorge
J M
JM
Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Wexner
S D
SD
Ehrenpreis
E D
ED
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis; D007792:Lactulose; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D007792:Lactulose; D006859:Hydrogen