Endoscopic [C-13]-urea breath test for quantification of Helicobacter pylori infection

Background: We previously developed a new diagnostic method for Helicobacte r pylori infection and called it the endoscopic [C-13]-urea breath test (EU BT). Here we evaluate the relationship between the EUBT results and the his tological findings. Methods: The EUBT was performed on 137 patients with gastroduodenal disease s. After the collection of a baseline breath sample, gastroduodenal endosco py was performed. Twenty milliliters of 0.05% phenol red solution containin g 100 mg of [C-13]-urea was sprayed over the entire gastric mucosa under en doscopic observation. A breath sample was collected 15 min after spraying. The content of (CO2)-C-13 in the breath samples was measured by ratio mass spectrometry. Two biopsy specimens each from the antrum and the middle corp us were obtained for culture and histology. Helicobacter pylori colonizatio n, activity, inflammation, atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were classifie d on a four-point scale according to the Updated Sydney System. Results: We found positive correlations between the EUBT values and the H. pylori colonization and activity score in the antrum and corpus, and negati ve correlations between the EUBT values and the atrophy and intestinal meta plasia scores in the corpus. Conclusions: The EUBT can be an indicator of the intragastric bacterial loa d and the histological findings for H. pylori. (C) 2000 Blackwell Science A sia Pty Ltd.