Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01776-8 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Measurement of fasting breath hydrogen concentration as a simple
diagnostic method for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
Version: 
0 
Date: 
23 Mar 2021
Reviewer's report:
This is a good study with reasonable sample size. early detection of pancreatic
enzyme insufficiency can change treatment decision and quality of life of
patients.BT-PABA test is a cubersome test, difficult to practice in day to day
clinical practice.FBAT can be usefull in clinical practice as it is a simple
procedure. But some points need to be highlighted
1.The hypothesis in PEI cause gut microbial alterations that cause increase
FBHT. But patients with significant alcohol intake , smoking, ca pancreas, all
itself can cause dybiosis even without PEI, these things should be taken into
account.
2.Many CP and pancreatic cancer patients also have diabetes mellitus, that can
cause SIBO, without pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, this can be a confounding
factor, not taken into account.
3.Author did not compare it with fecal elastase or fecal chymotrypsin assay
which are more clinically usefull.
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
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