13C-urea breath test: reproducibility and association with the severity of Helicobacter pylori-associated antral gastritis.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the present paper was to assess the reproducibility of the (13)C-urea breath test ((13)C-UBT) and its ability to reflect the level of Helicobacter pylori-associated inflammation.


METHODS
Asymptomatic H. pylori-positive subjects (n = 21) performed the (13)C-UBT six times. The H. pylori-positive symptomatic subjects (n = 55) performed the (13)C-UBT and had antral biopsies taken for histopathology, culture, urease activity assay and myeloperoxidase activity assay.


RESULTS
No significant intraindividual variation in (13)C-UBT results were observed for the asymptomatic subjects. The (13)C-UBT results were significantly higher in symptomatic subjects with a moderate to severe gastritis compared to a mild gastritis and to no inflammation (34.5 +/- 4.4 vs 17.7 +/- 2.8 vs 1.7 +/- 0.1, respectively, P < 0.01). The (13)C-UBT results significantly correlated with urease (r = 0.55) and myeloperoxidase activity (r = 0.82) but not with bacterial load. conclusion: The (13)C-UBT is a reproducible determinant of H. pylori infection and non-invasively assesses the severity of antral inflammation.
Matthews
Geoffrey M
GM
Center for Paediatric and Adolescent Gastroenterology, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia.
Cummins
Adrian G
AG
Lawrence
Andrew
A
Johnson
Bruce
B
Campbell
Fiona
F
Butler
Ross N
RN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis
D014508:Urea; D009195:Peroxidase