Korean J Neurogastroenterol Motil.  2009 Dec;15(2):116-123.

The Correlation of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, Orocecal Transit Time and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

• Chung MY
• Jun DW
• Hwang YH
• Yu YH
• Son BK
• Kim SH
• Jo YJ
• Park YS
• Lee OY

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Delayed orocecal transit time (OCTT) and presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may contribute to the common gastrointestinal symptoms in patient with cirrhosis. However, not much is known how SIBO and OCTT would affect gastrointestinal symptoms in cirrhotic patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation of SIBO, OCTT and gastrointestinal symptoms in cirrhotic patients.
METHODS
The lactulose breath test was used to measure SIBO and OCTT on 40 cirrhotic patients and 40 healthy volunteers. A questionnaire was completed in 40 cirrhotic patients.
RESULTS
SIBO was diagnosed on 23 (57.7%) of 40 cirrhotic patients and on 11 (27.5%) of 40 controls (p = 0.012). SIBO positive patients showed higher constipation score (1.30 vs. 0.47, p = 0.05) and hard stool score (0.87 vs. 0.18, p = 0.02) than SIBO negative patients. OCTT was slower in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy controls (140 +/- 29 min vs. 116 +/- 20 min, p = 0.001) and slower in SIBO positive group compared to SIBO negative group (136 +/- 25 min vs. 120 +/- 28 min, p = 0.035). Delayed OCTT was associated with hard stool score (r = 0.44, p = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS
Delayed OCTT and higher prevalence of SIBO were noted in cirrhotic patients. SIBO positive cirrhotic patients showed higher constipation score and hard stool score than SIBO negative patients.

Keyword

SIBO; OCTT; Gastrointestinal symptom; Liver cirrhosis

MeSH Terms

Breath Tests
Constipation
Fibrosis
Humans
Lactulose
Liver
Liver Cirrhosis
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Lactulose