Influence of urease activity in the intestinal tract on the results of ¹³C‐urea breath test

Abstract

Variability derived from urease activity in the intestinal tract appears to be minimal up to 60 min after ingestion of the test urea.

Diffuse White Deposits of the Duodenum May Suggest Delayed Glucose Absorption

“…At the end of endoscopy, the tip of the endoscope was placed in the second part of the duodenum and 20 mL water containing 100 mg 13 C‐substrate was sprayed onto the duodenal mucosa using a spraying instrument 6 . Breath samples were taken at baseline and at 10‐min intervals for 30 min and 90 min after administration in 13 C‐acetate and 13 C‐glucose breath tests, respectively.…”

S3-Guideline ”Helicobacter pylori and gastroduodenal ulcer disease” of the German Society for Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) in cooperation with the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology, Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition e. V., German Society for Rheumatology, AWMF-Registration-no. 021 / 001

“…False positive results of certain direct tests procedures can be caused by bacterial overgrowth in the stomach [116,117]. However, H. pylori culture including corresponding metabolic tests can be viewed as 100 % specific.…”

“…Another advantage of histology is the possibility to detect the much more seldom infection with Helicobacter heilmannii [119]. However, for H. pylori tests that assess urea activity i. e. rapid urease test and urea breath test the overgrowth in the stomach with urease producing bacteria is an important cause for false positive test results [116,117].…”

Proof‐of‐concept study on the suitability of 13C‐urea as a marker substance for assessment of in vivo behaviour of oral colon‐targeted dosage forms

“…We proposed that release of 13 C-urea in the caecum or colon (urease-rich segment) from oral colon-targeted capsules would lead to fermentation of 13 C-urea by bacterial urease into 13 CO2 (Lee et al, 2003;Urita et al, 2006). Subsequent absorption of 13 CO2 into the blood and circulation would lead to detectable 13 C (as 13 CO2) in breath.…”