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Long-term follow-up of 13C-urea breath test results after Helicobacter pylori eradication: frequency and significance of borderline delta13CO2 values.
JP. Gisbert, D. Olivares, I. Jimenez, JM. Pajares
Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2006 Jan;23(2):275-80.
PubMed: 16393307
Abstract
The precise choice of cut-off point for the 13C-urea breath test to define whether it is positive or negative represents a controversial issue. To quantify the 13C-urea breath test result for several years following Helicobacter pylori eradication, and to evaluate the frequency and the significance of borderline delta13CO2 values. Two-hundred H. pylori eradicated patients confirmed by 13C-urea breath test (100 mg of urea, citric acid), and having had repeated this test yearly up to 5 years, were studied. Delta13CO2 values between 2 and 5/1000 were considered as borderline results. Eight H. pylori recurrences were observed during 406 patient-years of follow-up (1.97% yearly). In two of eight reinfected patients, the reinfection was preceded by a negative delta13CO2 value >2/1000. Borderline delta13CO2 values were detected in 4% of the 606 urea breath tests performed, and in 25% when only patients in whom H. pylori recurrence was detected in subsequent urea breath tests were included (P < 0.05). The negative-predictive value of a post-treatment delta13CO2 >2/1000 for the diagnosis of H. pylori recurrence was 99%. Positive and negative urea breath test results tend to cluster outside the range between 2/1000 and 5/1000. Nevertheless, a borderline urea breath test delta value (e.g. very close to the selected cut-off point) should be interpreted cautiously, and the result should probably be confirmed either by repeating the urea breath test or by other diagnostic methods. On the contrary, a delta13CO2 value <2/1000 very confidently confirms H. pylori eradication.
Associated compounds:
Compound Name
with link to compound page |
Structure | Number of references |
---|---|---|
Urea | 1130 |