title: The prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and methane production in patients with myelomeningocele and constipation.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), methane (CH4) production and orocecal transit time (OCTT) in children affected by myelomeningocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted at the Catholic University in Rome, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen (6M/12F; 16.4±7.6 years) children affected by myelomeningocele were enrolled. All subjects underwent H2/CH4 lactulose breath tests to assess SIBO and OCTT. All patients performed a visual analog scale to investigate abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence, and maintained a diary of the frequency and consistency of the stool during the previous 7 days. A nephro-urological clinical evaluation of the number of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and neurogenic bowel disease score were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine percent (7/18) of the children showed SIBO and 61% (11/18) presented a delayed OCTT. Moreover 44.4% (8/18) produced high levels of CH4. Interestingly, all myelomeningocele children who produced CH4 showed a delayed OCTT and a higher incidence of UTI, with a lower frequency of evacuation, compared with those with a normal or accelerated OCTT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between CH4 and constipation suggests that CH4 has an active role in the development of constipation. One of the most interesting features of our study is to identify a correlation between myelomeningocele, CH4, delayed OCTT and UTI. The intestinal decontamination with locally acting drugs in these children may reduce the number of UTIs and improve intestinal motility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ojetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Spina Bifida Center Pediatric Department, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.affiliation: Spina Bifida Center Pediatric Department, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Triarico
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'aversa
authors.affiliation: Spina Bifida Center Pediatric Department, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ausili
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.affiliation: Spina Bifida Center Pediatric Department, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rendeli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001944:Breath Tests; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications*; D008697:Methane / Q000191:economics*; D015995:Prevalence; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D008697:Methane