Validation of the ¹³C-octanoic acid breath test for measurement of equine gastric emptying rate of solids using radioscintigraphy

Sutton, D.G.M., Bahr, A., Preston, T., Christley, R.M., Love, S. and Roussel, A.J. (2003) Validation of the ¹³C-octanoic acid breath test for measurement of equine gastric emptying rate of solids using radioscintigraphy. Equine Veterinary Journal, 35(1), pp. 27-33.

Abstract

Reasons for performing study: Disordered gastric motility may be a significant factor in the pathogenesis of many equine conditions. Although tests for liquid phase emptying rate have been validated in the horse, there are no effective tests for solid phase emptying measurement that can be performed routinely in the field. Objectives: The objective of this study was the assessment of a novel stable isotope technique, the ¹³C-octane acid breath test (¹³ C-OABT), for the measurement of gastric emptying of solid ingesta, by direct comparison with the optimum method of gastric scintigraphy. Methods: To facilitate dual measurement of gastric emptying, a test meal was used containing baked egg yolk labelled with both ¹³C-octanoic acid and (99m)technetium sulphur colloid. Simultaneous, serial lateral gastric scintigraphs and expiratory breath samples were obtained in 12 healthy horses after voluntary ingestion of the test meal. Analysis of breath (CO2)-C-13:(CO2)-C-12 ratio was performed by continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Power regression was used to determine the gastric emptying coefficient, the gastric half-emptying time (t(1/2)) and duration of the lag phase (t(lag)). Results: Significant correlations (P < 0.001) were found between the 2 techniques for measurement of both t(1/2) and t(lag). In addition, scintigraphic left t(1/2) was correlated significantly to breath test gastric emptying coefficient (P < 0.001). Conclusions: It was concluded that the ¹³C-octanoic acid breath test is a reliable diagnostic procedure to measure gastric emptying rate of solids in the horse. Potential relevance: Being safe, noninvasive and easy to perform, this test has potential value as; both sensitive diagnostic modality and humane research tool for motility studies.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Preston, Professor Tom and Love, Professor Sandy and Sutton, Professor David
• Authors: Sutton, D.G.M., Bahr, A., Preston, T., Christley, R.M., Love, S., and Roussel, A.J.
• Subjects: S Agriculture > SF Animal culture > SF600 Veterinary Medicine; Q Science > QL Zoology
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Equine Veterinary Journal
• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
• ISSN: 0425-1644
• ISSN (Online): 2042-3306
• Copyright Holders: © 2003 Equine Veterinary Journal Ltd
• First Published: First published in Equine Veterinary Journal 35(1):27-33
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.