Hydrogen breath test used to assess SIBO in patients with pancreatitis

Previous research has established that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is common in patients with chronic pancreatitis caused by excessive consumption of alcohol.  This new research examined if SIBO is also prevalent in patients with chronic idiopathic pancreatitis.  68 patients were enrolled in the study – 46 had idiopathic chronic pancreatitis and 22 had alcoholic.  Each subject was tested with the glucose hydrogen breath test.  The result was that there was a high prevalence of SIBO in both types of pancreatitis.

Ref: Pancreatology. 2014 Jul – Aug

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25062877