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Gastritis is defined as inflammation of the lining of the stomach. When stomach acid levels are very low, or chronically neutralized by antacids, H. pylori is less likely to be the cause and the overgrowth of others becomes more likely.
Causes & Development
Other causes, some of which act through low stomach acid, include medications, alcohol, ingestion of corrosive substances and extreme physiological stress. The incidence is about 8 out of every 1,000 people.
Signs & Symptoms
Some people do not have symptoms, but if present then they usually include one or more of:- upper abdominal pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
Gastritis can be diagnosed by biopsy and specimen examination under a microscope, where the presence of increased white blood cells is seen. Laboratory Findings:- Occult blood in stool due to gastric mucosal erosions
- Hypochromic, microcytic anemia due to chronic blood loss
- Macrocytic anaemia due to pernicious anemia following atrophic gastritis of long duration
- Early decrease in gastric acid due to increased acid formation by injured and atrophic gastric parietal cells
- Late absence of gastric acid which is unresponsive to Histalog or pentagastrin stimulation
- Increased serum gastrin due to lack of gastric acid and loss of acid inhibition of gastrin secretion
- Parietal-cell antibodies frequently occur in atrophic gastritis
- Intrinsic-factor antibodies occur in many cases of autoimmune chronic gastritis that result in pernicious anaemia
- Decreased serum vitamin B12 due to decreased formation of intrinsic factor by atrophic gastric parietal cells
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