[Exhaled hydrogen test in the detection of lactase deficiency]

To determine the validity of breath H2 measurements in detecting lactase deficiency, capillary blood glucose and breath H2 were measured after ingestion of 50 g lactose in 34 patients with abdominal symptoms or diarrhea. 18 patients had biopsy-proven lactase deficiency and 16 normal lactase activity. Blood glucose determination produced 2 false-positive results while breath H2 measurements provided 2 false-negative and 4 false-positive results.