Atrophic gastritis

Disease class: Gastritis

This refers to a consequence of chronic gastritis (stomach inflammation).
There is destruction of various cell populations in the stomach, resulting in progressive atrophy of the organ.

 

Causes

• Autoimmune Metaplastic Atrophic Gastritis (AMAG)
• Environmental Metaplastic Atrophic Gastritis (EMAG)

 

Types

• Type A: primarily affects the body/fundus of the stomach, and is more common with pernicious anaemia.
• Type B: primarily affects the antrum, and is more common with H. pylori infection

 

Complications

• Vitamin B12 deficiency 
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Achlorhydria
• Stomach cancer
• Carcinoid

 

Investigations

• Full blood count : macrocytic, megaloblastic anaemia
• Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test
• Intrinsic Factor antibody : positive

 

See also

• Hypertrophic gastritis