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PREVALENCE OF SMALL INTESTINE BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH IN PATIENTS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS

Prevalência de supercrescimento bacteriano do intestino delgado em pacientes com sintomas intestinais funcionais

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Small intestine bacterial overgrowth is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by an increase in the number and/or the presence of atypical microbiota in the small intestine. The symptoms of small intestine bacterial overgrowth are unspecific, encompassing abdominal pain/distension, diarrhea and flatulence. Due to the increased cost and complexity for carrying out the jejunal aspirate, the gold standard for diagnosis of the syndrome, routinely the hydrogen (H 2 ) breath test has been used, utilizing glucose or lactulose as substrate, which is able to determine, in the exhaled air, the H 2 concentration produced from the intestinal bacterial metabolism. However, due to a number of individuals presenting a methanogenic microbiota, which does not produce H 2 , the testing on devices capable of detecting, concurrently, the concentration of exhaled H 2 and methane (CH 4 ) is justified.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of small intestine bacterial overgrowth in patients with digestive symptoms, through a comparative analysis of breath tests of H 2 or H 2 and CH 4 associated, using glucose as substrate .

METHODS

A total of 200 patients of both sexes without age limitation were evaluated, being directed to a Breath Test Laboratory for performing the H 2 test (100 patients) and of exhaled H 2 and CH 4 (100 patients) due to gastrointestinal complaints, most of them patients with gastrointestinal functional disorders.

RESULTS

The results indicated a significant prevalence of small intestine bacterial overgrowth in the H 2 test and in the test of exhaled H 2 and CH 4 (56% and 64% respectively) in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, and higher prevalence in females. It found further that methane gas was alone responsible for positivity in 18% of patients.

CONCLUSION

The data found in this study is consistent with the findings of the current literature and underscores the need for using devices capable of capturing the two gases (exhaled H 2 and CH 4 ) to improve the sensitivity and hence the accuracy of small intestine bacterial overgrowth diagnosis in daily medical practice.

HEADINGS
Bacterial growth; Small intestine; Breath tests; Hydrogen; Methane

RESUMO

CONTEXTO

O supercrescimento bacteriano do intestino delgado é uma síndrome heterogênea, caracterizada pelo aumento no número e/ou presença de uma microbiota atípica no intestino delgado. Os sintomas do supercrescimento bacteriano do intestino delgado são inespecíficos englobando quadro de dor/distensão abdominal, diarreia e flatulência. Devido ao maior custo e complexidade para a realização do aspirado jejunal, padrão ouro para o diagnóstico da síndrome, tem sido utilizado rotineiramente o teste do hidrogênio (H 2 ) expirado, utilizando glicose ou lactulose como substrato, que é capaz de determinar, no ar expirado, a concentração de H 2 produzida a partir do metabolismo bacteriano intestinal. Entretanto, em decorrência de uma parcela de indivíduos apresentar uma microbiota metanogênica, não produtora de H 2 , justifica-se a realização do teste em aparelhos capazes de detectar, concomitantemente, a concentração de H 2 e metano (CH 4 ) expirados.

OBJETIVO

O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar a prevalência de supercrescimento bacteriano do intestino delgado em pacientes com sintomas digestivos, através de uma análise comparativa dos testes respiratórios empregando H 2 ou H 2 e CH 4 associados, utilizando a glicose como substrato.

MÉTODOS

Foram avaliados 200 pacientes de ambos os sexos, sem limitação de idade, encaminhados a um Laboratório de Teste Respiratório para realização do teste de H 2 (100 pacientes) e de H 2 e CH 4 expirados (100 pacientes) devido a queixas gastrointestinais, a maioria deles portadores de distúrbios funcionais gastrointestinais.

RESULTADOS

Os resultados obtidos indicaram uma significativa prevalência do supercrescimento bacteriano do intestino delgado no teste do H 2 e no teste do H 2 e CH 4 expirados (56% e 64%, respectivamente) em pacientes com sintomas gastrointestinais, além de maior predominância no sexo feminino. Constatou-se ainda, que o gás metano foi isoladamente responsável pela positividade em 18% do total de pacientes.

CONCLUSÃO

Os dados encontrados no presente estudo demonstram condizentes com os achados da literatura atual e reforçam a necessidade da utilização de aparelhos capazes de captar os dois gases (H 2 e CH 4 expirados) para melhorar a sensibilidade e, consequentemente, a acurácia do diagnóstico de supercrescimento bacteriano do intestino delgado na prática médica diária.

DESCRITORES
Crescimento bacteriano; Intestino Delgado; Testes respiratórios; Hidrogênio; Metano

INTRODUCTION

Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a heterogeneous syndrome, which can be characterized by an increase in the number and/or presence of an atypical microbiota in the small intestine 55. Dukowicz AC, Lacy BE, Levine GM. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2007;3:112-22.,1515. Quigley EM. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: what it is and what it is not. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2014;30:141-6. . It is known that although the gold standard for the diagnosis of overgrowth is still the presence of 1 x 10 5 to 10 6 colony forming units/mL (cfu/mL) in the jejunal aspirate, this definition has been challenged in the present scenario 22. Cole C, Ziegler T. Small Bowel bacterial overgrowth: a negative factor in gut adaptation in pediatric SBS. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2007;9:456-62.,55. Dukowicz AC, Lacy BE, Levine GM. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2007;3:112-22. . Khoshini and collaborators suggest that healthy individuals rarely have higher bacterial counts than 1 x 10 3 cfu/mL, which should be the new threshold for definition of the syndrome 88. Khoshini R, Dai SC, Lezcano S, Pimentel M. A systematic review of diagnostic tests for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Dig Dis Sci. 2008;53:1443-54. .

The real prevalence of this syndrome is not well known due to difficulties in defining and thus the very detection of SIBO 22. Cole C, Ziegler T. Small Bowel bacterial overgrowth: a negative factor in gut adaptation in pediatric SBS. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2007;9:456-62. . However, studies suggest that SIBO is a very common clinical condition, especially in patients with impaired gastrointestinal motility or anatomical abnormalities in the digestive tract 55. Dukowicz AC, Lacy BE, Levine GM. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2007;3:112-22. . Thus, a high prevalence of overgrowth was observed in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, liver diseases, pancreatic diseases, celiac disease, diabetes mellitus and neuromuscular diseases 33. Costa MBG, Azeredo Jr. IL, Marciano RD, Caldeira LM, Bafutto M. Evaluation of small intestine bacterial overgrowth in patients with functional dyspepsia through H2 breath test. Arq Gastroenterol. 2012;49:279-83.,1212. Passos MCF, Ramos AFP. Supercrescimento Bacteriano do Intestino Delgado. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Graffito; 2014, p.79-90. . Furthermore, SIBO has been associated with certain clinical conditions including rosacea, hepatic encephalopathy, obesity, gastroparesis, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, among many others 1414. Quera RP, Quigley EMM, Madrid AMS. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. An update. Rev Méd Chile. 2005;133:1361-70. Available from: http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-98872005001100013&lng=es
http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=s...
,1919. Sachdev AH, Pimentel M. Gastrointestinal bacterial overgrowth: pathogenesis and clinical significance. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2013;4:223-31.,2121. Siddiqui I, Ahmed S, Abid S. Update on diagnostic value of breath test in gastrointestinal and liver diseases. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2016;7:256-65. . It is believed that qualitative and quantitative alterations of the intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis) occur in all of these clinical conditions associated with chronic symptoms determining SIBO 55. Dukowicz AC, Lacy BE, Levine GM. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2007;3:112-22.,1414. Quera RP, Quigley EMM, Madrid AMS. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. An update. Rev Méd Chile. 2005;133:1361-70. Available from: http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-98872005001100013&lng=es
http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=s...
. Thus, the bacterial overgrowth is almost always a secondary condition, and, if the underlying problem is not addressed and treated properly (which is not always possible), the chance of SIBO recurrence is very high, even after antibiotic therapy 1616. Rezaie A, Pimentel M, Rao SS. How to Test and Treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: an Evidence-Based Approach. Curr Gastroenterol Rep . 2016;18:8. . In such cases, the need for repeated cycles of antibiotics is frequent to improve the intestinal symptomatology 99. Lacy LB, Mearin F, Chang L, Chey WD, Lembo AJ, Simren M, et al. Rome IV: Bowel Disorders. Gastroenterology. 2016;150:1393-1407e5. .

The examination considered the gold standard for SIBO diagnosis is the jejunal aspirate culture, which is not routinely performed because it requires a complex technique and is costly 1515. Quigley EM. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: what it is and what it is not. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2014;30:141-6. . In clinical practice, the most widely used method is the Hydrogen (H 2 ) breath test which has good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis 55. Dukowicz AC, Lacy BE, Levine GM. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2007;3:112-22.,1515. Quigley EM. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: what it is and what it is not. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2014;30:141-6.,2121. Siddiqui I, Ahmed S, Abid S. Update on diagnostic value of breath test in gastrointestinal and liver diseases. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2016;7:256-65. . This indirect and non-invasive test that uses glucose or lactulose as a substrate, is able to determine in the exhaled breath, the concentration of H 2 produced from the intestinal bacterial metabolism. However, approximately 8 to 27% of individuals do not produce H 2 , due to the presence of methanogenic microbiota, which results in a significant percentage of false negative results 11. Attaluri A, Jackson M, Valestin J, Rao SS. Methanogenic flora is associated with altered colonic transit but not stool characteristics in constipation without IBS. Am J Gastroenterol. 2010;105:1407-11.,77. Gasbarrini A, Corazza GR, Gasbarrini G, Montalto M, Di Stefano M, Basilisco G, et al. Methodology and indications of H2-breath testing in gastrointestinal diseases: the Rome Consensus Conference. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2009;29:1-49.,1818. Saad RJ, Chey WD. Breath testing for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: maximizing test accuracy. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol . 2014;12:1964-72. . For this reason, there has been a recommendation to perform the test in modern equipment capable of detecting, concomitantly, the concentration of exhaled H 2 and methane (CH 4 ), making it more sensitive and more acurate 55. Dukowicz AC, Lacy BE, Levine GM. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2007;3:112-22.,1515. Quigley EM. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: what it is and what it is not. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2014;30:141-6.,2121. Siddiqui I, Ahmed S, Abid S. Update on diagnostic value of breath test in gastrointestinal and liver diseases. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2016;7:256-65. . Most studies point out that the diagnostic accuracy of the breath test using glucose is higher compared to that using lactulose 2020. Shimura S, Ishimura N, Mikami H, Okimoto E, Uno G, Tamagawa Y, et al. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Patients with Refractory Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. J Neurogastroenterol Motil . 2016;22:60-8. .

Breath tests capable of identifying exhaled gases begin with acquiring the jejunal sample (baseline) for the measurement of H 2 and/or CH 4 in the exhaled air 66. Erdogan A, Rao SSC, Gulley D, Jacobs C, Lee YY, Badger C. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: duodenal aspiration vs glucose breath test. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;27:481-9. . After determining the baseline value, which is generally less than 10 parts per million (ppm), the patient ingests the carbohydrate that will be tested on the recommended dose (20 grams of lactulose in 250 ml of water and 25 to 50 g glucose in 250 mg of water) 2121. Siddiqui I, Ahmed S, Abid S. Update on diagnostic value of breath test in gastrointestinal and liver diseases. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2016;7:256-65. . The test will be considered normal if a significant increase in H 2 and/or CH 4 concentration does not occur in the expired air (less than 12 ppm increase over the baseline value). It is important to observe and analyze possible symptoms that patients may present during the test 55. Dukowicz AC, Lacy BE, Levine GM. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2007;3:112-22.,2121. Siddiqui I, Ahmed S, Abid S. Update on diagnostic value of breath test in gastrointestinal and liver diseases. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2016;7:256-65. .

SIBO treatment is empirical, recommending the use of broad spectrum antibiotics for 10 to 14 days (quinolone, metronidazole, Amoxycillin, tetracycline). The antibiotic of choice considered is rifaximin, which has low systemic absorption and minimal collateral effects 1313. Pimentel M. Review article: potential mechanisms of action of rifaximin in the management of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea. Aliment Pharmacol Ther . 2016;43:37-49.,1616. Rezaie A, Pimentel M, Rao SS. How to Test and Treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: an Evidence-Based Approach. Curr Gastroenterol Rep . 2016;18:8.,1717. Rivkin A, Rybalov S. Update on the Management of Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Focus on Rifaximin and Eluxadoline. Pharmacotherapy. 2016;36:300-16. . This drug has been shown to be more effective and safer in many studies, but is not yet available in Brazil 1212. Passos MCF, Ramos AFP. Supercrescimento Bacteriano do Intestino Delgado. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Graffito; 2014, p.79-90. . Thus, it is recognized that, currently, the emerging need to develop a systematic and consensual approach to the diagnosis and treatment of SIBO 1616. Rezaie A, Pimentel M, Rao SS. How to Test and Treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: an Evidence-Based Approach. Curr Gastroenterol Rep . 2016;18:8.,1919. Sachdev AH, Pimentel M. Gastrointestinal bacterial overgrowth: pathogenesis and clinical significance. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2013;4:223-31. .

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of SIBO in patients with digestive symptoms, through a comparative analysis of breath tests using H 2 or H 2 and CH 4 . It is intended to infer whether, in fact, the tests on devices able to detect both gases in exhaled air (H 2 and CH 4 ) are cost-effective and necessary for the diagnosis of SIBO.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was made, that evaluated the data and the results of breath tests using H 2 or H 2 and CH 4 performed in a Breath Test Laboratory in Belo Horizonte (Cemad). This is the only service that has the breath test device able to detect exhaled H 2 and CH 4 in this city (GastroCH4ECK™). The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Sciences Faculty Research in the resolution number 46290015.9.0000.5134.

The patients who underwent these tests and from which will be made the interpretation of the results, were sent to the laboratory due to presenting gastrointestinal symptoms and clinical suspicion of SIBO. Spreadsheets were constructed detailing the results of breath tests using only H 2 and the H 2 and CH 4 . The results confirmed or disproved the SIBO diagnostic through a quantitative assessment of the exhaled gases (value described in ppm, i.e. parts per million) and also through the evaluation of the presence or absence of symptoms reported by patients during the course of the respective tests. Such symptoms, properly described in the analyzed results of the tests were stratified as mild (only one reported symptom), moderate (two symptoms reported) and severe (three or more symptoms reported).

We evaluated the results of the breath tests from patients of both sexes without age limitation, referred to conduct such tests because of gastrointestinal complaints such as abdominal pain and/or discomfort, flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, intestinal constipation, among others. A convenience sample which included all the results of the exhaled H 2 and CH 4 test held since the implementation of this breath test at the clinic for a year and a half (100 patients) was used. Similarly, the same number of patient test results that only performed the exhaled H 2 test during that same period, selected consecutively and randomly (100 patients) was also evaluated. For greater uniformity in the interpretation of the results, we included only the results of patients who underwent the test using glucose as a substrate, excluding the results of those who took the test with lactulose as substrate.

The results were reviewed and analyzed by the interpretation of the figures obtained from the excretion of H 2 and/or H 2 and CH 4 during the 2 hours that the test was performed. The patient results of H 2 breath tests considered positive were those who had an increase in excretion of H 2 in at least 12 ppm relative to the baseline value, obtained before the substrate intake (glucose). Correspondingly, the patient results of H 2 and CH 4 breath tests considered positive were those who had increase in excretion of H 2 or CH 4 or both gases in at least 12 ppm relative to the baseline value. Furthermore, an analysis was done of the symptoms description reported by patients during the whole period in which the tests were performed, in addition to the proper stratification as previously mentioned.

The data is presented by absolute and relative frequencies. The association between the results of breath tests in relation to gender and the occurrence of symptoms was assessed by Fisher’s exact test. Statistical analyzes were carried out in the free software R version 3.1.3 and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant (5% significance level).

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 200 consecutive results of breath tests of patients with clinical suspicion of SIBO. We selected 100 results of patient tests who only performed the exhaled H 2 test and 100 patient results who underwent the exhaled H 2 and CH 4 test in the same period.

We found that the H 2 and the H 2 and CH 4 exhalation tests were performed predominantly in women, accounting for 66% and 72% of samples, respectively.

It was observed that 56 results (56%) of exhaled H 2 breath tests were positive for SIBO. In addition, 63% of them had reported intestinal symptoms during the tests, with 16% classified as severe symptoms, 12% classified as moderate and 35% as mild symptoms. The time required for the test to became positive ranged from 15 to 120 minutes between the analyzed results. We also observed the difference of the baseline value and the maximum peak of exhaled H 2 which ranged between 12-85 ppm in these analyzed results.

The analysis of the test results from patients who underwent the exhaled H 2 and CH 4 test showed that 64 patients (64%) tested positive for SIBO. In addition, there were reports of intestinal symptoms in 48% of the results of the analyzed tests, 15% were classified as severe symptoms, 13% as moderate symptoms and 20% as mild symptoms. The time required for the test positivity ranged from 15 to 120 minutes for H 2 and 15 to 90 minutes for CH 4 , between the analyzed results. There was also the difference from the baseline and the maximum peak obtained from exhaled gases ranged between 12-144 ppm (H 2 ) and 14-50 ppm (CH 4 ).

Table 1 shows the gender distribution and the occurrence of symptoms resulting from the H 2 test. The occurrence of symptoms during the test was significantly associated with the test result ( P -value 0.000), indicating that, among patients with a positive result, the proportion of those with symptoms (80.4%) was significantly higher than among patients with negative results (40.9%)

TABLE 1
Gender distribution and symptoms occurrence for test result of H 2 exhale test employing glucose as a substrate

Table 2 shows the distribution of gender and occurrence of symptoms resulting from the H 2 and CH 4 test. There was a significant association between the affirmation of both gases (H 2 and CH 4 ) and gender ( P -value 0.020), indicating that the proportion of female patients with positive results (100%) was significantly higher than among patients with negative results (61.1%). The isolated affirmation of exhaled H 2 was not significantly associated with gender (p-value 0.454) or with the occurrence of symptoms ( P -value 0.814). Similarly, the isolated affirmation of methane was not significantly associated with gender ( P -value 0.359) nor the occurrence of symptoms ( P -value 1.000). In cases of simultaneous affirmation of H 2 and CH 4 , there was also no significant association with the symptoms ( P -value 0.735).

TABLE 2
Gender distribution and symptoms occurrence for test result of H 2 and CH 4 exhale test employing glucose as a substrate

DISCUSSION

There is a misconception that SIBO is a rare clinical condition that occurs only in a small number of patients with anatomic abnormalities of the proximal digestive tract or severe digestive motility disorders 1818. Saad RJ, Chey WD. Breath testing for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: maximizing test accuracy. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol . 2014;12:1964-72. . Recent studies show that an excessive number of bacteria is found in several gastrointestinal disorders, surviving especially in patients with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic liver diseases and gastrointestinal functional disorders, especially in the irritable bowel syndrome 44. Costello BPJ, Ledochowski M, Ratcliffe NM. The importance of methane breath testing: a review. J Breath Res. 2013; 7:7-16.,1414. Quera RP, Quigley EMM, Madrid AMS. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. An update. Rev Méd Chile. 2005;133:1361-70. Available from: http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-98872005001100013&lng=es
http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=s...
.

It is known that the prevalence of SIBO in healthy volunteers is lower when compared to symptomatic patients, especially those patients with inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and abdominal 77. Gasbarrini A, Corazza GR, Gasbarrini G, Montalto M, Di Stefano M, Basilisco G, et al. Methodology and indications of H2-breath testing in gastrointestinal diseases: the Rome Consensus Conference. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2009;29:1-49.,1111. Mitsui T, Kagami H, Kinomoto H, Ito A, Kondo T, Shimaoka K. Small bowel bacterial overgrowth and rice malabsorption in healthy and physically disabled older adults. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2003;16:119-22. distension syndrome. The presence of overgrowth, as detected by the exhaled H 2 test has been described in 0-12.5% in the asymptomatic 2020. Shimura S, Ishimura N, Mikami H, Okimoto E, Uno G, Tamagawa Y, et al. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Patients with Refractory Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. J Neurogastroenterol Motil . 2016;22:60-8.) volunteer group. However, it is important to note that the actual prevalence of the syndrome is not well known due to remaining difficulties for its diagnosis in daily practice 22. Cole C, Ziegler T. Small Bowel bacterial overgrowth: a negative factor in gut adaptation in pediatric SBS. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2007;9:456-62. .

In the present study, we observed a higher prevalence of females in patients with intestinal symptoms in the two analyzed tests. However, a study by Erdogan et al. 1515. Quigley EM. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: what it is and what it is not. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2014;30:141-6. demonstrated that gender does not influence the presence of overgrowth, not corroborating with our results. What probably differs from our results is that most patients referred to such tests were suffering from gastrointestinal functional disorders, especially irritable bowel syndrome, known to be more prevalent in women, at a ratio of 4:1 1010. Lovell RM, Ford AC. Global prevalence of and risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol . 2012;10:712-21.e4.,1111. Mitsui T, Kagami H, Kinomoto H, Ito A, Kondo T, Shimaoka K. Small bowel bacterial overgrowth and rice malabsorption in healthy and physically disabled older adults. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2003;16:119-22. .

The study from Erdogan et al. also showed that the prevalence of bacterial overgrowth in patients with intestinal symptoms (diarrhea and flatulence, without changes in digestive endoscopy) was only 27.3% when using the H 2 and CH 4 test 66. Erdogan A, Rao SSC, Gulley D, Jacobs C, Lee YY, Badger C. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: duodenal aspiration vs glucose breath test. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;27:481-9. . However, when the duodenal culture (gold standard for the diagnosis of SIBO) was also performed this prevalence increased to 44.6%. These authors concluded in the end that 65.5% of patients reporting gastrointestinal symptoms during the test had an overgrowth of microorganisms in the small intestine. In our study, we found a prevalence of 64% positivity overgrowth, a very similar rate to that acquired by North American researchers 1818. Saad RJ, Chey WD. Breath testing for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: maximizing test accuracy. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol . 2014;12:1964-72. .

We observed in this study that the presence or absence of digestive symptoms while performing both tests shows a direct correlation with the result thereof. In patients who tested positive for SIBO, symptom reporting was significantly more frequent than in those with negative results.

Given that the H 2 and CH 4 are produced in the intestine by microorganisms that degrade carbohydrates, the breath test which detects these gases is carried out in order to evaluate the presence of bacterial overgrowth 1818. Saad RJ, Chey WD. Breath testing for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: maximizing test accuracy. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol . 2014;12:1964-72.,2222. Triantafyllou K, Chang C, Pimentel M. Methanogens, methane and gastrointestinal motility. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;20:31-40. . Thus, the use of the test that identifies the production of both gases is essential for greater accuracy in the diagnosis of the syndrome. The addition of methane to the exhaled H 2 test increases the sensitivity for the diagnosis of SIBO, allowing detection of the syndrome in a subgroup of individuals that do not produce H 2 , but produce CH 4 as a major byproduct of carbohydrate fermentation 1616. Rezaie A, Pimentel M, Rao SS. How to Test and Treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: an Evidence-Based Approach. Curr Gastroenterol Rep . 2016;18:8. . According to numerous studies that identified CH 4 exhaled in breath tests, it is estimated that 30%-62% of healthy individuals excreting this Gas 66. Erdogan A, Rao SSC, Gulley D, Jacobs C, Lee YY, Badger C. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: duodenal aspiration vs glucose breath test. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;27:481-9.,2222. Triantafyllou K, Chang C, Pimentel M. Methanogens, methane and gastrointestinal motility. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;20:31-40. . As about 15% of humans do not produce H 2 , devices capable of detecting both gases, greatly increase the sensitivity of the test, reducing false negative results.

In this study the data analyzed was from two breath tests using different samples. SIBO prevalence was 56% in the tests conducted in apparatus that detects only expired H 2 and 64% in those performed in another apparatus capable of detecting both exhaled H 2 and CH 4 . In this last test, it was found that methane was solely responsible for positivity in 18% of patients, while the H 2 was solely responsible for 36% of this total. Together, these gasses were responsible for the positivity in 10% of the sample.

Our results show that approximately 20% of patients identified with SIBO only got their SIBO diagnosis by methane identification in the exhaled gas, which is consistent with the results found in the literature 66. Erdogan A, Rao SSC, Gulley D, Jacobs C, Lee YY, Badger C. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: duodenal aspiration vs glucose breath test. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;27:481-9.,1616. Rezaie A, Pimentel M, Rao SS. How to Test and Treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: an Evidence-Based Approach. Curr Gastroenterol Rep . 2016;18:8.,2020. Shimura S, Ishimura N, Mikami H, Okimoto E, Uno G, Tamagawa Y, et al. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Patients with Refractory Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. J Neurogastroenterol Motil . 2016;22:60-8. . Thus, it is essential that the breath tests to diagnose SIBO be performed on devices capable of identifying the exhaled H 2 and CH 4 , in order to increase sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy.

CONCLUSION

The data obtained in our study are consistent with those of the most recent literature on this topic. We proved the importance of utilizing the breath test that identifies the exhaled H 2 and CH 4 in order to increase the diagnostic accuracy of small intestine bacterial overgrowth. Our results confirm previous findings that showed that 15% to 20% of individuals do not produce hydrogen gas in their intestine.

It was also possible to observe a high prevalence of SIBO in patients with digestive symptoms during the two hours that the test is performed. Furthermore, we found that the presence and severity of symptoms during the making thereof is more frequent in patients with a positive result, correlating directly with the diagnosis of bacterial overgrowth.

Our study reinforces the need for routine introduction, in our midst, of devices able to detect both gases (H 2 and CH 4 ) for the most accurate diagnosis of SIBO, increasing thus the sensitivity and reliability of this test, with a significant reduction of false negative results.

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  • Disclosure of funding: no funding received

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    23 Feb 2017
  • Date of issue
    Apr-Jun 2017

History

  • Received
    22 Oct 2016
  • Accepted
    21 Dec 2016
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