title: 37 kBq 14C-urea breath test and gastric biopsy analyses of H. pylori infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The treatment of H. pylori-associated gastroduodenal disease is increasingly aimed at bacterial eradication which requires follow-up assessment of therapeutic effectiveness and re-infection. A simplified 37 kBq 14C-urea breath test for H. pylori infection has been developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 37 kBq 14C-urea breath test was compared with biopsy urease (CLO) and histological analyses of gastric-biopsies obtained from 63 patients undergoing endoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-min breath test correlated closely with biopsy findings, had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 95% and a positive predictive value of 92%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The simplified, low-dose, 14C-urea breath test is a convenient, low-cost, transportable means of facilitating the management of H. pylori-associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Christchurch School of Medicine, New Zealand.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Allardyce
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Tie
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bagshaw
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D001944:Breath Tests; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology*; D014508:Urea
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D014508:Urea