13C-octanoic acid breath test for gastric emptying measurement.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this multicentre study was to assess the accuracy and reproducibility of the 13C-octanoic acid breath test compared to scintigraphy for measurement of gastric emptying.


METHODS
Sixty-nine healthy subjects (40 men, 29 women; mean age 30 years, range 21-61) were studied at least once by using the 13C-octanoic breath test. In 34 healthy subjects, gastric emptying was simultaneously measured by gastric scintigraphy, and the 13C-octanoic breath test was then repeated in 18 of these cases. Fifty-four patients (30 men, 24 women; mean age 46 years, range 13-74) with dyspeptic or reflux symptoms were studied according to the same procedure.


RESULTS
The correlation between breath test and scintigraphic values was highly significant (r = 0.744, P<0.001). The concordance of results of scintigraphy and breath test (normal versus abnormal) and the reproducibility (Bland and Altman method) of the breath test were good (CVinter = 24%, CVintra = 15%). As compared to scintigraphy, breath test detected an abnormal gastric emptying with 67% sensitivity and 80% specificity (ROC analysis).


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm the value of breath test as an accurate measurement of gastric emptying. Its excellent reproducibility makes it a method of choice for pharmacological studies. However, at least when scintigraphy is considered the gold standard, breath test sensitivity may be insufficient for the detection of gastroparesis in an individual patient.
Delbende
B
B
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, CHU Hotel Dieu, Nantes, France (CRI INSERM 9508).
Perri
F
F
Couturier
O
O
Leodolter
A
A
Mauger
P
P
Bridgi
B
B
Bizais
Y
Y
des Varannes
S B
SB
Andriulli
A
A
Galmiche
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests; D002210:Caprylates / Q000378:metabolism; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002210:Caprylates; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; C031492:octanoic acid