Comparison of D-xylose hydrogen breath test with urinary D-xylose test in Indian children with celiac disease.

D-xylose hydrogen breath test (H2BT) may be better parameter in screening for intestinal malabsorption in patients with celiac disease. This study sought to compare D-xylose H2BT with urinary D-xylose tests in screening for intestinal malabsorption in patients with celiac disease. A total of 68 children with confirmed celiac disease were enrolled for this study. Five-gram urine D-xylose test and D-xylose H2BT were performed simultaneously according to standard methods. Institute ethical clearance and informed consent was taken before starting this study. Of 68 children, 41 were boys and 27 girls of age range 5-14 years; 5-g urine D-xylose test was abnormal in 50% of cases and 5-g D-xylose H2BT in 69.9% of cases. D-xylose H2BT was able to pick up 19.9% more cases of malabsorption in Indian children with celiac disease. This study indicates that performance of 5-g D-xylose H2BT is a better test than 5-g urinary D-xylose test in screening for intestinal malabsorption in patients with celiac disease.