Correlative study of oral lactose hydrogen breath test, lactase activity and intestinal morphology in Giardia lamblia infected children

ABSTRACT

Oral Lactose Hydrogen Breath Test [OLHBT], biochemical assay of lactase activity [LA] and histomorphologie examination of jejunal biopsies were done in 30 children [6-12 years old and both sexes] with abdominal pain and stools analysis showing trophozoites and cysts of Giardia Lamblia [GL] compared to 30 normal control of the same age group and sexes. The results showed that there was significantly increased incidence of hypolactasia in cases with giardiasis compared to control group [33.3% 10.0% respectively]. Also, the study showed that LA was significantly decreased in infected group compared to control group. Concerning histomorphologic changes in the form of shortening, atrophy and chronic cellular infiltration were present in 30% of cases. There was significantly increased incidence of abnormal histomorphologic lesions of the small intestinal mucosa in Giardiasis compared to control group. Lastly, in present work, upon doing matrix correlation the results showed that medium negative correlation was observed between the grade of histopathologic features of jejunal biopsies and the LA [micro t molgram/min] while medium positive correlation was noted between the grade of histopathologic features of Jejunal biopsies and maximum rise in H2 breath concentration [p.p.m] detected by OLHBT