We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Methacetin Breath Test Predicts Survival in Patients with Viral Hepatitis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 18 Nov 2009
A methacetin breath test (MBT) that can be performed quickly and noninvasively has been proven to accurately predict survival in patients with viral hepatitis.

The breath test, which has the trade name Breath ID, is based on the fact that methacetin is metabolized in the liver to produce acetaminophen and carbon dioxide. More...
The test measures exhaled carbon dioxide following an oral dose of isotopically labeled methacetin. The speed of that reaction declines with impaired hepatic function

Gadi Lalazar M.D. and a team from the Liver Unit from the Department of internal medicine at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center (Jerusalem, Israel) and colleagues reported that the MBT accurately predicted survival of 395 patients with chronic viral hepatitis during a median of five months of follow-up. These patients had a higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and, therefore were at increased risk. The scientists concluded that MBT might increase physicians' ability to identify at-risk patients and allow those patients to be listed for liver transplantation earlier than using MELD alone to determine mortality risk.


MELD is a scoring system adopted by the United Network for Organ Sharing (Richmond, VI, USA) to assess liver disease severity and determine 3-month mortality. Viral hepatitis progresses at an unpredictable rate and the addition of another way of assessing disease progression could serve as an important adjunct to MELD. The basis for allocating liver transplants, MELD is known to be an imperfect predictor of survival, explained Dr. Lalazar.

"The breath test has to be validated on a large cohort of patients," said Dr. Lalazar, principal investigator on this study "but if it is validated, this noninvasive liver function test will be able to identify liver impairment at all stages of liver disease-both acute and chronic.'' He added, "We are now conducting large scale clinical trials to assess the role of the methacetin breath test for follow up and therapeutic decision making in patients with chronic hepatitis B and in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease."

The study was presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), held in Boston (MA, USA) from October 30-November 3, 2009.

John Hoefs, M.D., of the University of California, Irvine (USA) commented that quantitative tests of liver health such as the MBT appear to be more accurate than the usual clinical measures. Dr. Hoefs, who was not involved in the study, was part of a group that reported on a separate trial involving a panel of other quantitative tests, such as choline and antipyrine clearance and perfused hepatic mass. It also accurately predicted outcomes in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

Related Links:
Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center

United Network for Organ Sharing

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

University of California, Irvine



New
Gold Member
Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile pHOx
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Hand-Held Immunofluorescence Analyzer
WS-Si1500
New
Modular Hemostasis Automation Solution
CN Track
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more

Pathology

view channel
These images illustrate how precision oncology Organ Chips recapitulate individual patients’ responses to chemotherapy (Photo courtesy of Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the two primary types of esophageal cancer, ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective targeted therapies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.