Assessment of the 14C-Glycocholic Acid Breath Test

James, Oliver; Agnew, J. E.; Bouchier, I. A. D.

doi:10.1136/bmj.3.5873.191

Cited by 56 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Analysis of baseline anthropomorphic variables between those with a negative breath test and those with a positive test at 10 or 15 ppm reveals no difference. Previous workers used the [ 14 C]-bile acid breath test, which may cause false positive results because of passage of substrate into the colon, even in normal subjects [6,7]. In one study with a high percentage of positive tests in healthy elderly volunteers (56% at 3 h) [4], only seven out of 12 hospitalized elderly patients developed negative breath tests after antibiotics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies often relied on [ 14 C]-bile acid breath tests for the diagnosis of bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel. Because of substantial passage of substrate into the colon resulting in metabolism and false positive results even in normal subjects, this test has been criticised [6,7]. The clinical importance of positive breath tests is uncertain as many fit elderly people with positive tests have no demonstrable evidence of malabsorption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Small bowel bacterial overgrowth in subjects living in residential care homes

Lewis¹

1999

Age and Ageing

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Objectives: in elderly people, bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel may be occult. The significance of positive breath tests are uncertain: many fit elderly subjects with positive tests show no evidence of malabsorption. We assessed the prevalence and significance of bacterial overgrowth in the small bowel in a relatively unselected elderly population. Methods: residents of seven elderly people's homes had a glucose hydrogen breath test. A medical history and anthropomorphic measurements were recorded. Volunteers with positive breath tests were given doxycycline. After 4 months all volunteers were reassessed. Results: of 140 residents, 62 were tested. Nine (14.5%) had a positive breath test. There was no difference in anthropomorphic and bowel habit data between those with positive and those with negative breath tests. After 4 months of antibiotic treatment, volunteers with a positive breath test had increased weight and body mass index, while those with a negative test had decreased weight and body mass index. Conclusions: the percentage of volunteers with a positive breath test was much lower than in previous studies. This may be due to the relatively unselected nature of the volunteers. Treatment of bacterial overgrowth resulted in a small but significant improvement in anthropometric indices. The lack of association of positive breath tests with baseline anthropomorphic measurements or bowel habit highlights the occult nature of the bacterial overgrowth and questions its clinical importance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small bowel bacterial overgrowth in subjects living in residential care homes

Lewis¹

1999

Age and Ageing

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“…The reproducibility of the test has not been much studied (4,10). In our hands it was good (r = 0.987, p <0.05), despite the multiplicity of factors which may affect the results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

The Cholyl Glycine-1-<sup>14</sup>C Breath Test in Various Gastrointestinal Disorders

Peled¹,

Levy-Gigi²,

Ayalon³

et al. 1979

Digestion

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The cholyl glycine-1-¹⁴C breath test was evaluated in a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. 138 tests were performed in 106 patients. Methods of data expression were evaluated and the cumulative 8-hour value was used. In 27 control patients the upper limit of the normal was found to be 78. A good correlation was found between the peak values and the cumulative 8-hour values (r = 0.95, p < 0.01). The reproducibility of the test was good (r = 0.985, p < 0.05). Abnormal results were found in 12 out of 13 cases with resection of the ileum and 11 out of 14 cases with Crohn’s disease of the distal small bowel. The test was normal in cases with diseases of the proximal small bowel (celiac, Whipple’s and Crohn’s diseases). The test was also normal in patients with colitis. It was abnormal in some of the cases after cholecystectomy and in most cases with carcinoma of the pancreas. The breath test was useful in monitoring the results of treatment in bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel. False negative results were observed after antibiotic treatment. The method seems to be more sensitive than the Schilling test in diagnosing disease of the distal small bowel.

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“…Higgs et a 12 showed that CO2 production in response to exercise was greater in 'less fit' than 'fit' subjects. This implies that CO2 production in older and less fit subjects, in response to physical or even possible psychological stress, may be greater than in younger subjects.…”

Section: Reproducibility Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%