13C-labeled mixed triglyceride breath test ( 13C MTG-BT) in healthy children and children with cystic fibrosis (CF) under pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT): A pilot study

• Published in: Clinical biochemistry 2008-12, Vol.41 (18), p.1489-1492
• Main Authors: Herzog, Denise C., Delvin, Edgard E., Albert, Caroline, Marcotte, Jacques E., Pelletier, Véronique A., Seidman, Ernest G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 13C-labeled mixed triglycerides; Adolescent; Breath test; Breath Tests - methods; Child; Cystic fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis - enzymology; Cystic Fibrosis - therapy; Elastase; Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Faecal fat; Female; Humans; Lipase - metabolism; Male; Pancreas - enzymology; Pilot Projects; Reproducibility of Results; Triglycerides - chemistry; Triglycerides - metabolism
• ISSN: 0009-9120; 1873-2933
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2008.08.087

The MTG-BT estimates the hydrolysis of triacyl-glycerols by pancreatic lipase, and appears attractive for monitoring exogenous lipase requirements in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. To assess the test's discrimination capacity and repeatability, 9 CF patients with PERT and 10 healthy children underwent the 13C-MTG-BT twice, at a 2- to 4-week interval. The test distinguished well between patients with severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (SEPI) and healthy subjects. However, within-subject variability for postprandial ‰ 13C-enrichment and postprandial % dose recovery (PDR) was high in both groups. Therefore, the 13C-MTG-BT seems useful to distinguish between SEPI and normal exocrine pancreatic function, but requires further development to improve its repeatability.