Elevated 13C urea breath test values females infected with Helicobacter pylori.
(13)C-urea breath test (UBT) for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori requires a high density and active bacteria and has the potential to provide a noninvasive index of bacterial growth. We describe the gender differences in delta over baseline (13)C-UBT values in 7373 patients (4531 females and 2842 males) who underwent (13)C-UBT test for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. A significantly (P<.001) higher mean +/- SD excess delta (13)CO(2) excretion was recorded in females (24.7+/-17.4) compared to males (17.6+/-11.8) aged 10-80 years. The age-adjusted difference between sexes was 7.1 (95% confidence interval, 6.4-7.9). Our analysis demonstrates quantitatively for the first time gender associated differences in H. pylori host interaction. This study suggests that infected females have a higher bacterial load and therefore may potentially infect their children at a higher degree than males.
Shmuely
Haim
H
Helicobacter pylori Research Institute, Department of Internal Medicine C, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva, Israel. hshmuely@clalit.org.il
Yahav
Jacob
J
Samra
Zmira
Z
Chodick
Gabriel
G
Ofek
Itzhak
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001944:Breath Tests; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism*; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D014508:Urea; D014510:Urease