Abstract
To validate the standerized 13C-urea breath test(13C-UBT)for the detection ofHelicobacter pylori(H. pylori)infection both before and after antimicrobial treatment inJapanese people, we investigated a simple 13C-UBT method in total 110 patients most ofwhich consisted of peptic ulcer patients before and after antimicobial therapy. Patientswere given 100mg of 13C-urea at fasting, and keep sitting position after mouth washingwith water. Breath samples were taken before and every 10 minitues(10-90)afteradministration of 13C-urea. In the simple two point analysis of 13C-UBT, the best breathsample point was 30 min. and the best cut-off value for a positive test was 2.5%, determined by using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve. Its sensitivity was98.3%, its spesificity was 96.0%, accuracy was 97.3%. And, then, we investigated the clinical meaning ofΔ13C-value and the pattern of timecourse of Δ13C-value, because of UBT reflects the total intragastric urease activity, theoretically. We compared UBT results with endoscopic findings(distribution of ulcers, activity of ulcers), histological findings(H. pylori density, activity of gastritis, atrophy ofgastric mucosa)and serological findings(pepsinogen 1, 2, 1/2, HPIgG)in 46 H. pyloripositive peptic ulcer patients. UBT results was significantly correlated with only the H.pylori density(r=0.37-0.43). 13C-UBT reliably reflected the total intragastric urease activity and H. pylori densityon the time of examination, but not reflected neither endoscopic, histological findings norserological findings in peptic ulcer patients.
