Early peak of hydrogen during lactose breath test predicts intestinal motility

Abstract

Lactose breath test (LBT) is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of lactose malabsorption. The test is considered positive for a peak of hydrogen (H2) ≥ 20 parts per million (ppm) above the baseline. Some patients (pts) showed a rapid peak between 30 and 90 minutes after lactose ingestion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of an early peak during a LBT and an accelerated oro-cecal transit time (OCTT). We retrospectively analyzed all pts who referred to our Gastroenterology unit for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, from January to September 2012, who performed LBT, glucose and lactulose breath test. We consider a positive LBT for a peak of H2 > 20 ppm, a positive GHBT for a peak >12 ppm and we considered a normal OCCT a peak of H2 ≥ 10 ppm between 75 ± 105 min after lactulose load. The correlation between LBT and OCTT was evaluated by Pearson score.