[¹⁴C]aminopyrine breath analysis and conventional biochemical tests as predictors of survival in cirrhosis

Twenty-eight patients with histologically confirmed cirrhosis were followed for up to 3.8 years after [¹⁴C]aminopyrine breath analysis. Survival rates were calculated by life-table method and outcome analyzed by log rank test. A normal breath test score was associated with a higher probability of survival than a low score, although the difference was not statistically significant. A normal serum albumin was a better predictor of outcome. Survival curves constructed according to the results of breath analysis and serum albumin differed in that the former appeared to predict early survival and the latter late survival. For this reason, data were reanalyzed by subjects' results for both tests. A normal breath test score and a normal serum albumin was associated with a significantly higher probability of survival than an abnormal result for either test.