title: 13C-urea breath test to assess Helicobacter pylori bacterial load.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some authors have reported, using different protocols, that 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT) is capable of assessing the intragastric Helicobacter pylori bacterial load, whereas others have not confirmed these data. Our aim is to evaluate the correlation between 13C-UBT values and H. pylori bacterial load.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred ninety-two patients diagnosed H. pylori-positive by rapid urease test, histology, and 13C-UBT were enrolled. H. pylori bacterial load (H. pylori score) and gastritis activity (activity score) were evaluated according to the Updated Sydney System. 13C-UBT was performed according to the European Standard Protocol. Breath samples were obtained every 10 minutes for 60 minutes in 52 patients and at 30 minutes (T30) in 140 patients and analyzed by mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At T30, mean +/- SD excess delta 13CO2 excretion was 17.4 +/- 1.1, 29.9 +/- 2.2, and 48.7 +/- 4.8 in patients with H. pylori scores 1, 2, and 3, respectively. This difference was statistically significant: H. pylori score 1 versus 2, p < .005; score 1 versus 3, p < .05; score 2 versus 3, p < .05. A significant positive correlation (G = 0.59) was found between H. pylori score and activity score of chronic gastritis. At T40 and T50 significant correlation between mean excess delta 13CO2 excretion and bacterial load was achieved only in patients with H. pylori scores 1 and 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  13C-UBT European Standard Protocol values correlate with H. pylori bacterial load and the activity of gastritis at T30 breath sampling time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Rocco Maurizio
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zagari
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pozzato
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martuzzi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fuccio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bazzoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001944:Breath Tests; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000201:enzymology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism*; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D014508:Urea; D014510:Urease