Changes in gastric environment with test meals affect the performance of 14C-urea breath test.
BACKGROUND
(14)C-urea breath test (UBT) is considered to be an accurate diagnostic test for the detection of active Helicobacter pylori infection. Various test meals are used in (14)C-UBT to slow down gastric emptying, and to enhance the gastric distribution, in order to increase the time and area of contact between microorganisms and the tracer substrate. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the effect of gastric environment on the performance of (14)C-UBT using an alkaline and an acidic liquid test meal having gastric emptying retardant effect.


METHODS
The comparison of (14)C-UBT was done with liquid test meals (200 mL water) comprising (i) plain drinking water (PDW); (ii) 1.3 g or 3.0 g citric acid (CA); and (iii) 3.0 g trisodium citrate (TSC). Eighteen patients (37 +/- 12 years, range 18-57 years) with complaints of dyspepsia participated in the study. The status of H. pylori was confirmed by histology and rapid urease test. A total of 93 kBq of (14)C-urea (0.5 mL) in a gelatin capsule was orally administered along with liquid test meals to the overnight fasting subjects. Breath samples were collected and radioactivity measured. Results were expressed as (14)CO(2)/mmol exhaled CO(2) as percentage of administered radioactive urea.


RESULTS
Higher acidic gastric environment (pH approx. 2.0) with CA was found to increase the exhaled (14)CO(2) level in a dose-dependent manner as compared to PDW and TSC meal (P < 0.05) at all time points. With TSC test meal, the expired (14)CO(2) level decreased in the lower acidic gastric environment (pH approx. 5.3). The peaks of exhaled (14)CO(2) with TSC test meal were observed at the same time points as that with PDW and CA test meals. The (14)C-UBT with TSC was found to be positive in 77% of patients (10/13).


CONCLUSIONS
Better interaction between the microbial urease and (14)C-urea, caused by a test meal that retards gastric emptying and that changes gastric pH, plays an important role in hydrolysis of the administered (14)C-urea by H. pylori urease.
Pathak
Chander M
CM
Departments of Biophysics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India. chander_pathak@sify.com
Bhasin
Deepak K
DK
Nada
Ritambara
R
Bhattacharya
Anish
A
Khanduja
Krishan L
KL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002214:Capsules; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002951:Citrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000008:administration & dosage
D002214:Capsules; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002951:Citrates; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D019343:Citric Acid; D014508:Urea