Abstract
Stable isotopes, such as 13C, should be substituted for the long-lived radionuclide 14C in the 14C breath test when doing liver function tests in children and pregnant women. For comparison 13C, 15N-methacetin and 14C-methacetin were synthesized as suitable diagnostic agents. Methods are described for the measurement of 14C and 13C in the breath. After oral administration of labelled methacetin to healthy subjects and patients with liver diseases a good correspondence between 13C- and 14C-measurements in the same subject on the one hand, and a good discrimination between controls and patients on the other hand were shown. Findings with regard to 14C measurements in urine are discussed supporting the supposed advantage of 13C-methacetin over 14C-methacetin application.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bircher J (1979) Assessment of hepatic function by 14CO2 breath analysis (potentials and limitations). In: Colombetti LG (ed) Principles of Radiopharmacology III, p 179–191, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida
Breen KJ, Desmond PV, Bury R (1977) A 14C-phenacetin breath test in the assessment of hepatic function. Gastroenterology 72: 1033
Faust H, Jung K, Krumbiegel P (1981) Stabile Isotope in der medizinischen Forschung. Isotopenpraxis 17: 193–200
Günther K, Schneider G (1981) Erfahrungen mit dem 14C-Aminopyrin-Atemtest-einem einfachen Test zur Beurteilung der mikrosomalen Leberzellfunktion. Proc XVIII Symposium Nuklearmedizin Reinhardsbrunn. p 109. Isocommerz, Berlin
Hepner GW, Vesell ES (1974) Assessment of aminopyrine metabolism in man by breath analysis after oral administration of 14C-aminopyrine. N Engl J Med 291: 1384
Krumbiegel P (1981) In vivo-Markierung mit dem stabilen Isotop 13C. Proc XVIII Symposium Nuklearmedizin Reinhardsbrunn. p 113. Isocommerz, Berlin
Lauterburg BH, Bircher J (1973) Hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing capacity measured in vivo by breath analysis. Gastroenterology 65: 556
Rabinowitz JL, Lopez-Majano V (1981) 14CO2 in breath. Eur J Nucl Med 6: 213–219
Schneider JF, Schoeller DA, Schreider BD, Kotake AN, Hachey DL, Klein PD (1979) Use of 13C-phenacetin and 13C-methacetin for the detection of alternations in hepatic drug metabolism. Proc 3rd International Conference on Stable Isotopes. May 1978, Academic Press, New York
Schoeller DA, Schneider JF, Solomons NW, Watkins JB, Klein PD (1977) Clinical diagnosis with the stable isotope 13C in CO2 breath tests: methodology and fundamental considerations. J Lab Clin Med 90: 412–421
Smith GE, Griffiths LA (1976) Comparative metabolic studies of phenacetin and structurally related compounds in the rat. Xenobiotica 6: 217–236
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Krumbiegel, P., Günther, K., Faust, H. et al. Nuclear medicine liver function tests for pregnant women and children 1. Breath tests with 14C-methacetin and 13C-methacetin. Eur J Nucl Med 10, 129–133 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00252720
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00252720