HELICOBACTER-PYLORI - C-14 UREA BREATH TE ST IN CLINICAL-PRACTICE IN A GENERAL-HOSPITAL

Using isotope methods we studied in 125 patients the absence or presen ce of gastric urease. Carbon(14) urea was given orally, breath samples were collected over a 30 min period, and the amount of (CO2)-C-14 exc reted every 10 min was determined. The patients were divided in two gr oups: 1) uninfected with Helicobacter pylori (HP) (n = 64), 2) infecte d (n = 41), depending on whether the excretion of the (CO2)-C-14 in th e breath was greater o lower that 1% of the administered dose. Compare d with the infect ed patients the uninfected patients have shown a mea n values of (CO2)-C-14 in the breath significantly lower at 10-20-30 m in. Among 38 patients who underwent both the C-14 urea breath test and endoscopy biopsy of the antral mucosa for histological examination, 2 2 (58%) and 16 (42%) showed positive or negative HP on biopsy respecti vely. Among these HP-positive patients, 16 (73%) had chronic gastritis , 3 (14%) gastritis acute and 3 ((14)%) has duodenal ulcer. Excretion of (CO2)-C-14 in breath, lower than 1% and higher than 1% has a specif icity of 81% and sensitivity accuracy, positive predictive power of 86 %, 84% and 86% respectively. In conclusion C-14 urea breath test is a simple noninvasive and easy way to detect with high degree of confiden ce the presence or absence of gastric urease.