are basal samples necessary?
AIM: The 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT) is one of the best methods for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Basal breath samples are usually obtained, in addition to those obtained after urea intake, as it has been suggested that basal values may oscillate among a population (e.g. depending on diet). However, the superiority of this strategy has not been sufficiently demonstrated. The elimination of basal samples in the 13C-UBT protocol would have the advantages of higher simplicity and speed. METHODS: The 13C-UBT was performed in 714 consecutive patients. Mean age was 48 +/- 16 years, 49% were males, and in 48% of the patients previous H. pylori eradication therapy had been administered. Basal samples (13C-basal) and at 30 min after taking 100 mg of urea labelled with 13C (13C-post-urea) were obtained, delta over baseline (13C-DOB) being the algebraic difference between the ratio 13C/12C at these two points (which is the parameter usually given in studies, being considered
