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Sorbitol H[sub 2]-Breath Test versus Anti-Endomysium Antibodies for the Diagnosis of Subclinical/Silent Coeliac Disease.
- Source :
- Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology; Nov2001, Vol. 36 Issue 11, p1170-1172, 3p
- Publication Year :
- 2001
-
Abstract
- Background: Recent studies have shown that the prevalence of anti-endomysial antibodies (EMAs) in clinical practice is lower than expected; the aim of our study was therefore to compare the sorbitol H[sub 2]- breath test (BT) with EMAs in the diagnosis of subclinical/silent coeliac disease and to compare with histologic lesions. Methods: We studied 123 consecutive patients with subclinical (96) and silent (27) coeliac disease. Expiratory samples were collected before the patients drank the test solution (5 g of sorbitol in 150 ml of tap water) and every 30 min for 4 h. An increase in H[sub 2] concentration of at least 20 ppm over fasting baseline was considered positive for sorbitol malabsorption. EMAs were screened by the indirect immunofluorescence method. Results: EMAs were positive in 77/96 (80.80%) and sorbitol H[sub 2]-BT in 94/96 (97.91%) patients with subclinical coeliac disease, while EMAs were positive in 17/27 (62.96%) and sorbitol H[sub 2]-BT in 26/27 (96.29%) patients with silent coeliac disease (P < 0.001 in both forms of coeliac disease). The best cut-off values in ppm and minutes are higher and shorter in the severe form than in the minor form of intestinal damage, respectively (P < 0.001 in both forms). Conclusions: This study indicates that almost all subclinical/silent coeliac patients show abnormal sorbitol H[sub 2]-BT and that there is a strict correlation between cut-off value (in ppm and minutes) and histologic lesions. In particular, the maximal cut-off value (in ppm and in minutes) correlates statistically with the more severe the grade of intestinal damage. Finally, the prevalence of EMA in subclinical/silent disease is lower than expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- CELIAC disease diagnosis
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
BREATH tests
SORBITOL
PHYSIOLOGY
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00365521
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 5323444
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00365520152584798