Direct comparison of solid-phase gastric emptying times assessed by means of a carbon isotope–labeled sodium acetate breath test and technetium Tc 99m albumin colloid radioscintigraphy in healthy cats

Silke Schmitz Department for Internal Medicine of the Small Animal Hospital, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany.

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Birte Götte Department for Internal Medicine of the Small Animal Hospital, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany.

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Christian Borsch Institute for Nutritional Science, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany.

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Clemens Kunz Institute for Nutritional Science, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany.

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Klaus Failing Department for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Veterinary Division, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany.

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Reto Neiger Department for Internal Medicine of the Small Animal Hospital, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany.

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.75.7.648
Volume/Issue:
Volume 75: Issue 7
Online Publication Date:
01 Jul 2014
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Abstract

Objective—To directly compare solid-phase gastric emptying times assessed by means of a [13C]sodium acetate breath test ([13C]-SABT) and technetium Tc 99m albumin colloid radioscintigraphy (99mTc-ACR) in healthy cats.

Animals—12 healthy cats.

Procedure—After ingestion of a test meal containing 50 mg of [13C]sodium acetate and 250 MBq of 99mTc-albumin colloid, each cat underwent simultaneous [13C]-SABT and 99mTc-ACR on 2 consecutive days. Breath samples and scintigrams were acquired at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 300, 360, 480, and 600 minutes after meal ingestion. Quartiles of gastric emptying (25%, 50%, and 75%) were calculated for breath test analysis by use of the area under the curve of the 13C:12C ratio. Quartiles of gastric emptying times were extrapolated from the scintigraphic findings by beans of nonlinear curve regression analysis.

Results—Mean ± SD gastric half-emptying (50%) times obtained with [13C]-SABT and 99mTc-ACR, were 239 ± 28 minutes and 276 ± 59 minutes, respectively. A 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that mean gastric emptying times determined with [13C]-SABT and 99mTc-ACR differed significantly. For the stages of gastric emptying, Pearson correlation between the 2 methods was good at 25% (r = 0.655) and weak at 50% (r = 0.588) and 75% (r = 0.566)of gastric emptying.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that the [13C]-SABT can be a valid alternative to 99mTc-ACR in healthy cats; it was easy to perform, was tolerated well by the cats, and had acceptable correlation to scintigraphic findings at gastric emptying of 25%, 50% and 75%. Studies in cats with delayed gastric emptying will be needed to verify the validity of the [13C]-SABT.

Abstract

Objective—To directly compare solid-phase gastric emptying times assessed by means of a [13C]sodium acetate breath test ([13C]-SABT) and technetium Tc 99m albumin colloid radioscintigraphy (99mTc-ACR) in healthy cats.

Animals—12 healthy cats.

Procedure—After ingestion of a test meal containing 50 mg of [13C]sodium acetate and 250 MBq of 99mTc-albumin colloid, each cat underwent simultaneous [13C]-SABT and 99mTc-ACR on 2 consecutive days. Breath samples and scintigrams were acquired at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 300, 360, 480, and 600 minutes after meal ingestion. Quartiles of gastric emptying (25%, 50%, and 75%) were calculated for breath test analysis by use of the area under the curve of the 13C:12C ratio. Quartiles of gastric emptying times were extrapolated from the scintigraphic findings by beans of nonlinear curve regression analysis.

Results—Mean ± SD gastric half-emptying (50%) times obtained with [13C]-SABT and 99mTc-ACR, were 239 ± 28 minutes and 276 ± 59 minutes, respectively. A 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that mean gastric emptying times determined with [13C]-SABT and 99mTc-ACR differed significantly. For the stages of gastric emptying, Pearson correlation between the 2 methods was good at 25% (r = 0.655) and weak at 50% (r = 0.588) and 75% (r = 0.566)of gastric emptying.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that the [13C]-SABT can be a valid alternative to 99mTc-ACR in healthy cats; it was easy to perform, was tolerated well by the cats, and had acceptable correlation to scintigraphic findings at gastric emptying of 25%, 50% and 75%. Studies in cats with delayed gastric emptying will be needed to verify the validity of the [13C]-SABT.

Contributor Notes

Dr. Schmitz's present address is Klinik für Kleintiere (Innere Medizin), Frankfurter Straße 126, 35392 Giessen, Germany.

The authors declare that no funding from a third party was received for the project and that they have no competing interests.

Address correspondence to Dr. Schmitz (Silke.Schmitz@vetmed.unigiessen.de).
Cover American Journal of Veterinary Research
American Journal of Veterinary Research
Publication Date:
01 Jul 2014

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