C-13-urea breath test to diagnose Helicobacter pylori infection in children aged up to 6 years

Background. C-13-urea breath test (C-13-UBT) is an accurate noninvasive tool for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. It is considered the best method for epidemiological studies, but there are few studies to evaluate the C-13-UBT in infants and toddlers.Aim. To evaluate the C-13-UBT performed with infrared spectroscopy in children aged up to 6 years.Patients. Sixty-eight patients (6 months. to 5 years 11 months.) were evaluated prospectively and consecutively.Methods. Helicobacter pylori infection was detected by positive culture, or rapid urease test and histological examination, both positive. C-13-UBT was performed with 50 mg of C-13-urea diluted in 100 ml of commercial orange juice. Two expired air samples were collected: before and 30 minutes after tracer ingestion. Cutoff of delta over baseline (DOB) was 4.0parts per thousand and urea hydrolysis rate 10 mug/minute. Results. Fifteen of 68 (22.1%) patients were H. pylori infected. Sensitivity was 93.3% (95% Cl; 86.8%-99.7%) and specificity was 96.2% (95% CI; 93.6%-98.8%), and these values were equal for DOB and urea hydrolysis rate. Negative DOB values in noninfected patients ranged from -1.5parts per thousand to 2.6parts per thousand and positive DOB values ranged from 10.8parts per thousand. to 105.5parts per thousand. There was no relationship between DOB values and age.Conclusion. C-13-UBT performed with infrared spectroscopy proved to be a reliable and accurate noninvasive diagnostic tool for H. pylori infection detection in children aged up to 6 years. Results far from cutoff value can clearly distinguish positive from negative C-13-UBT results in children up to 6 years old.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc