H. pylori infection increases levels of exhaled nitrate.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections worldwide. Despite the existence of a breath test for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection, no study has described the composition of volatile compounds, especially the levels of nitrate, in the exhaled air of patients with H. pylori infection.


METHODS
The volatile compounds in the exhaled air of 14 patients suffering from H. pylori gastritis and 11 controls were analyzed using proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry. Gastric biopsy was used to establish diagnosis of current H. pylori infection.


RESULTS
Comparing mass spectra between groups, Mass 28 (hydrogen cyanide, HCN) and Mass 64 (hydrogen nitrate, H2NO3) were found to be significantly elevated in patients with H. pylori infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The main result of the present study is that in H. pylori-infected patients, levels of exhaled hydrogen nitrate and hydrogen cyanide are found to be significantly elevated. However, further studies are necessary to find out whether the differences in the detected mass spectrum are specific enough to differentiate patients with H. pylori gastritis from healthy controls.
Lechner
Matthias
M
Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Section Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Fritz-Pregl-Str. 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Karlseder
Alban
A
Niederseer
David
D
Lirk
Philipp
P
Neher
Andreas
A
Rieder
Josef
J
Tilg
Herbert
H
D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D045853:Exhalation / Q000502:physiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000378:metabolism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
D009566:Nitrates; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II