Influencing Factors on Lactulose Breath Test Results

• Published in: The Korean journal of gastroenterology Vol. 75; no. 1; pp. 23 - 28
• Main Authors: Kim, Jin Won, Park, Seon-Young, Chung, Jin Ook, Cho, Hyun A, Kim, Dong-Hyun, Yoon, Jae Hyun, Park, Chang Hwan, Kim, Hyun Soo, Choi, Sung Kyu, Rew, Jong Sun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jin Publishing & Printing Co 2020; 대한소화기학회
• Subjects: breath tests; difference; irritable bowel syndrome; lactulose; sex; 내과학
• ISSN: 1598-9992; 2233-6869
• DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2020.75.1.23

to assess the relationship between hydrogen and methane production in patients with suspected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods: The demographic and clinical factors of 268 patients with suspected IBS, who had undergone a lactulose breath test, were analyzed. Results: Of 268 patients included in this study, 143 (53.4%) were females. The median age and BMI of the patients was 58.0 years (range, 18.0-80.0 years) and 22.5 kg/m2 (range, 14.4-34.3 kg/m2), respectively. A weak positive correlation was observed between the BMI and baseline hydrogen level (rho=0.134, p=0.031). Women were significantly more likely to show a ≥20 ppm increase in hydrogen within 90 min (early hydrogen increase, p=0.049), a ≥10 ppm increase in methane within 90 min (early methane increase, p=0.001), and a ≥10 ppm increase in methane between 90 min and 180 min (late methane increase, p=0.002) compared to men. The baseline hydrogen level was related to the baseline methane level (rho=0.592, p<0.001) and the maximal hydrogen level within 90 min was related to maximal methane level within 90 min (rho=0.721, p<0.001). Patients with an early hydrogen increase (43.8%) were more likely to show a positive result for an early methane increase compared to patients without an early increase in hydrogen (0%, p<0.001). Conclusions: Women were associated with high rates of positive lactulose breath-test results. In addition, methane production was correlated with hydrogen production.