To study the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth among chronic pancreatitis patients

Background: Patients with chronic pancreatitis exhibit numerous risk factors for the development of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It is to be considered a factor that worsens symptoms and nutritional status in patients with CP. Only a limited number of heterogeneous studies have evaluated the rate of SIBO in small groups of CP patients. Aim: To assess the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in chronic pancreatitis (CP), and analyze factors related with SIBO in CP. Methods: It is a prospective study performed between June 2017 and February 2018 at Madras Medical College, Chennai.56 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 60 age and gender-matched healthy subjects (HS) were evaluated for SIBO using glucose hydrogen breath test (GHBT). Persistent rise in breath hydrogen 12 ppm above basal (at least two recordings) was diagnostic of SIBO. Results: SIBO was diagnosed more often among patients with chronic pancreatitis than controls (8/56[14.2%] vs. 1/60 controls [1.6%]; p (0.003). Of 56 patients, 40(71.4%) had alcoholic and 16 (28.5%) had idiopathic chronic pancreatitis. SIBO was as commonly detected among patients with alcoholic as idiopathic pancreatitis (6/40 [15%] vs. 2/16 [12.5%]. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), steatorrhoea, pain, analgesic use, pancreatic calcifications, and use of pancreatic enzyme supplements had no relationship with the presence of SIBO. Conclusion: The prevalence of SIBO detected using GHBT was high among patients with CP both alcoholic and idiopathic than Controls.