[Usefulness of the breath test with urea-13C in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection].
BACKGROUND
Many diagnostic methods of variable diagnostic profitability are available to detect infection by Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the European method of the breath test with urea-13C and compare the results with common histologic methods, the rapid urease test and serology.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients who attended the Endoscopy Unit for recurrent symptomatology of the upper digestive tract were included in the study. A patient was considered to present infection by Helicobacter pylori on positivity of 2 of the usual methods: histology, rapid urease test and serology.


RESULTS
The breath test with urea-13C was positive in 25 patients (13CO2 > 5 per 1,000) and negative in 10 patients with 100% specificity and 96% sensitivity. The specificity of the rapid urease test, histology and serologic tests were 90, 90 and 80%, respectively with 92, 88, and 88% sensitivity, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The European method of the breath test with urea-13C is simple, non invasive and achieves the greatest profitability in the determination of Helicobacter pylori.
Alcalde
M
M
Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
Pérez García
J I
JI
Sánchez
P
P
Lancho
A
A
Carpintero
P
P
Pajares
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014508:Urea
D014508:Urea
Utilidad del test del aliento con urea-13C en el diagnóstico de la infección por Helicobacter pylori.