USEFULNESS OF THE C-14 UREA BREATH TEST AS A SEMIQUANTITATIVE MONITORING INSTRUMENT AFTER THERAPY FOR HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION

Background: We evaluated the reliability and usefulness of the C-14 ur ea breath test (UBT) in confirming eradication of Helicobacter pylori 4 to 6 weeks after cessation of antimicrobial therapy. Methods: We inv estigated 57 patients, who underwent both an upper endoscopy with mult iple biopsy specimens taken for histopathology, culture and/or CLO tes t, and a C-14 UBT. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for the breath test were c alculated against the combined biopsy-based test results. Values for s ensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were also calculated after exclu ding results in a grey zone containing equivocal test results. Results : Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the C-14 UBT were 92%, 78% , 52%, and 97%, respectively, After introduction of a grey zone concep t, these values were 89%, 100%, 100%, and 97% respectively. Conclusion s: We conclude that for research, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy wit h multiple biopsy specimens and using different diagnostic techniques should remain the 'gold standard' to test for cure.