14CO2 exhalation tests. Diagnostic improvement in gastroenterologic diseases

For evaluation of 14CO2-breath-tests the three most employed tests, namely glycero-14C-tripalmitate-test, 14C-lactose-tolerance-test, and 14C-glycin-cholate-test, were performed in healthy volunteers (n = 69), patients with chronic pancreatitis (n = 18), manifest malassimilation (n = 8), lactase deficiency (n = 15), and patients, in whom a disturbed enterohepatic bile salt circulation was suspected (n = 19). Usefulness of malabsorption tests was limited by many false normal results. Cholylglycin-breath-test on the other hand was sensitive, but clinical significance remained questionable. In our opinion simple performance and lacking discomfort are no sufficient arguments for 14CO2-breath-test.