IneffectivenessofBreathMethaneExcretionasaDiagnosticTestforLactoseMalabsorption.docVIP

Ineffectiveness of Breath Methane Excretion as a Diagnostic Test for Lactose Malabsorption Myo-Khin; Bolin, Terry D.*; Khin-Mar-Oo?; Tin-Oo; Kyaw-Hla, S.?; Thein-Myint, Thein? Author Information Department of Medical Research, Yangon Myanmar; *Gastrointestinal Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia; and ?Department of Child Health, Institute of Medicine I, Yangon, Myanmar Address correspondence and reprint requests to Professor Terry D. Bolin, Gastrointestinal Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, High Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia. ? ABSTRACT ? Background: In clinical and field conditions, breath gas analysis has been widely used in evaluating carbohydrate digestion. A field study was performed to determine the prevalence of lactose malabsorption in Myanmar children and to evaluate the possibility of using breath methane excretion to indicate lactose malabsorption in a field situation. ? Methods: The study population consisted of 118 children aged 1 to 12 years. A hydrogen breath test after a lactose meal (2 g/kg, maximum 50 g) was used as a standard test. ? Results: Lactose malabsorption was detected in 16.7% of children aged 1 to 2.9 years, with the prevalence increasing with age from 40.5% of those aged 3 to 5.9 years to 88.5% of those aged 6 to 8.9 years and reaching 91.7% in those aged 9 to 11.9 years. Lactose malabsorption was more prevalent when children were weaned before 4 months of age (87.2 vs. 41.1%;?p? 0.01). Compared with lactose-tolerant children, those with lactose malabsorption had significantly higher concentrations of breath hydrogen excretion 60 minutes after the lactose test meal. Breath methane excretion was also significantly higher in samples at 120 minutes in children with lactose malabsorption. Breath methane excretion of greater than or equal to 2 parts per million at 180 minutes as a diagnostic test for lactose malabsorption had a sensitivity of 61.5% and a specificity of 84.6%. ? Conclusion: The breath m