title: The utility of the 13C-galactose breath test as a measure of liver function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 13C-galactose breath test has been reported to be an accurate, non-invasive method for the assessment of liver function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the optimal doses of labelled and unlabelled carrier galactose necessary to perform the 13C-galactose breath test, to assess the utility of the 13C-galactose breath test in distinguishing between normal subjects and those with liver cirrhosis and to determine whether the 13C-galactose breath test can stratify patients with cirrhosis based on their Child-Pugh score.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three control subjects and 30 patients with liver cirrhosis received fixed doses of unlabelled carrier galactose and labelled 13C-galactose. Breath samples were collected just before and at 30-min intervals up to 4 h after the ingestion of unlabelled carrier galactose and labelled 13C-galactose. Each sample was analysed for its 13CO2 content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Doses of 25 g/m2 of unlabelled carrier galactose and 100 mg of 13C-galactose had the greatest sensitivity (93%; 95% confidence interval, 76-99%) and specificity (87%; 95% confidence interval, 65-97%) for distinguishing between normal subjects and cirrhotics when the test was performed 2 h after ingestion. The 13C-galactose breath test was also able to distinguish between class A and class B or C cirrhotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 13C-galactose breath test is a useful non-invasive tool for distinguishing between healthy subjects and patients with liver cirrhosis and between cirrhotics with well-compensated liver disease and those with decompensated liver disease.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Saadeh
authors: P W
authors: PW
authors: Behrens
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Parsi
authors: W D
authors: WD
authors: Carey
authors: J T
authors: JT
authors: Connor
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Grealis
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Barnes
mesh_terms: D001944:Breath Tests; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005690:Galactose