Limitations to carbon 13-labeled urea breath testing for Helicobacter pylori in infants.

We determined the validity of the carbon 13-labeled urea breath test in young children. We found that although the 13C-labeled urea breath test had a specificity greater than 90%, borderline or false positive results occurred more frequently in children younger than 2 years compared with older child...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Journal of Pediatrics Vol. 139; no. 5; pp. 734 - 738
Autores principales: Imrie C, Rowland M, Bourke B, Drumm B
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Elsevier B.V. 2001 Nov
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:We determined the validity of the carbon 13-labeled urea breath test in young children. We found that although the 13C-labeled urea breath test had a specificity greater than 90%, borderline or false positive results occurred more frequently in children younger than 2 years compared with older children. False positive results may be caused by oral-urease-producing organisms because direct intragastric administration of 13C urea reduced the excess delta 13CO2. Care is urged in interpreting one positive 13C-labeled urea breath test in children younger than 2 years.