Anthral gastritis: what is it? Chronic gastritis of the antrum

Anthral gastritis - what is it? This question is asked by patients when the doctor puts them such a diagnosis. This is a chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which for the first few years develops without any symptoms, after which the patient begins to periodically disturb exacerbations. The gastroenterologist makes the final diagnosis only after a thorough study of the disease clinic and the necessary laboratory tests. Let's try to understand what anthral gastritis is, consider what kinds, symptoms and treatment of this disease.

Anthral gastritis: what is it?

The structure of the stomach is represented by three sections: upper, middle and lower. The latter is just called antral, or antrum. Its surface consists of glandular cells that produce mucus and bicarbonates. Slime is a protective layer for the mucous, not giving hydrochloric acid to eat away it, and bicarbonates alkalinize the food, and in this form it enters further into the intestine.

Antral gastritis is an inflammation of the lower part of the stomach, and is considered as the initial stage of chronic gastritis. The arisen inflammatory process blocks the production of bicarbonates, the acidity of the gastric juice increases, and the acidic contents enter the duodenum, leading to the formation of ulcers.

The main cause of pathology

Almost always chronic gastritis of the antrum is associated with the presence in the gastric mucosa of a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Such a causative agent is quite comfortable with increased acidity and dies when it decreases. In unfavorable conditions, the bacterium can be in a state of rest, and if it enters a comfortable environment, then it becomes active again.

The peculiarity of Helicobacteria is their development of enzymes, which change the environment around them. Thus, the urea present in the stomach is cleaved by urease to ammonia, promoting alkalinization of the environment around the microorganism. Mucinase reduces the viscosity of gastric mucus. Under such favorable conditions, active bacteria easily penetrate the antral epithelium of the stomach through a layer of mucus that protects it. There occurs their rapid multiplication, because of what starts to damage the mucosa and the work of the stomach glands is disrupted. The peloric department stops the production of bicarbonates, resulting in an increase in the acidity of the gastric juice, which causes damage to the epithelium of the stomach.

Other causes of pathology

In addition, this disease occurs because of the following reasons:

• Duodeno-gastral reflux (due to the weakness of the pylorus in the stomach, the contents of the intestine begin to be discarded);
• Taking certain drugs (anti-tuberculosis drugs, NSAIDs, salicylates);
• Food allergy;
• Drinking;
• Malnutrition;
• smoking.

The following internal factors also contribute to the development of this illness:

• Endocrine pathology;
• Respiratory and heart failure;
• Foci of chronic infection;
• Lack of iron;
• Kidney disease.

Classification and symptoms of the disease

There are several types of antral gastritis:

• surface;
• Erosive;
• Follicular;
• Hyperplastic;
• Diffuse.

All of them have their own characteristic symptoms. Let us briefly dwell on each of them.

Superficial gastritis

With this type of pathology, only the gastric mucosa is affected, without the formation of erosions, ulcers and scars, and the glandular cells continue to function normally. Surface antral gastritis is treated according to the developed scheme, which is quite effective.

Symptoms of ailment are often similar to signs of many other diseases of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. But if from time to time a person is disturbed by the following ailments, then, most likely, it is the superficial gastritis of the antral department:

• Sour eructation, heartburn - indicate increased acidity;
• Problems with the stool - there is an alternation of constipation with diarrhea, as the process of digestion of food is disturbed;
• Pain in the upper part of the stomach - occurs 1-1.5 hours after eating, and may appear between meals;
• Nausea and heaviness in the stomach also eloquently indicate that this is a superficial antral gastritis.

Erosive gastritis

Such an ailment is considered much more serious than the previous one. In this case, the deeper layers of the stomach are affected with the formation of erosions and ulcers capable of occupying a large area. This inflammation is difficult to treat.

Erosive antral gastritis symptoms are exactly the same as the superficial, but its specificity is that the vomit contains blood veins, and the feces get black due to bleeding ulcers located on the surface of the mucosa.

Follicular gastritis

Very rare disease that occurs against the background of the affected mucosa due to activation of Helicobacter pylori. In the affected areas, lymphocytes begin to accumulate, follicles appear and the glands that produce bicarbonates are clogged. The development of follicular gastritis is due to the characteristics of the human immune system. Typical symptoms of this ailment are frequent pains, but not too strong.

Hyperplastic gastritis

The disease is associated with hyperplasia, that is, overgrowth of the mucous antral part of the stomach. This type of gastritis is characterized by the formation of a large number of polyps, small in size. There are no special signs of this disease, and it is diagnosed only during the gastroscopy.

Diffuse gastritis

A distinctive feature of this disease is a vast area of distribution. Inflammatory process affects the entire mucous membrane of the stomach, which leads to a violation of the digestibility of food. As a result, a large number of harmful substances are formed, which, when absorbed, begin to poison the body. The resulting nausea, weakness, increased body temperature eloquently testify to the development of diffuse gastritis.

It should be remembered that the symptoms of antral gastritis can not be manifested for a very long time, therefore, at the slightest suspicion of an ailment it is necessary to be examined by a gastroenterologist.

Treatment of antral gastritis

Therapists, endoscopists, gastroenterologists are engaged in diagnosis and treatment of this pathology. In case of exacerbation, the patient is referred to a department of therapy or gastroenterology. Treatment begins with the appointment of a special diet. In addition, the doctor must prescribe anti-Helicobacter pills. Treatment of antral gastritis is quite complicated, since the bacterium that caused this disease adapts very quickly to the antibiotics used. Usually, a double or triple treatment regimen is prescribed, which includes Clarithromycin, Metronidazole, Tetracycline, or Ampicillin. In this scheme also inhibitors of the proton pump inhibiting the bacterium, and with the help of antibacterial drugs they perform their complete eradication.

Treatment of ailment can be carried out not only by medicines, but also by herbs. Traditional medicine recommends in the period of exacerbation to use infusions of mint, chamomile, flax seeds, St. John's wort. If erosions were formed on the mucosa of the antral part of the stomach, antisecretory drugs are prescribed. With a pyloric spasm, such myotropic antispasmodics as "Papaverin" and "No-Shpa" are used. Antral reflux-gastritis is treated with agents that improve intestinal motility, for example, "Cerucal".

To achieve full recovery, necessarily appoint reparative drugs. It can be a means of stimulating protein synthesis (anabolic steroids, Riboxin), Carnitine, Solcoseryl, Gastrofarm, sea buckthorn oil.

Of great importance is and physiotherapy: UHF, galvanization of the stomach with electrophoresis of medicines, treatment with diadynamic currents Bernard, ultrasound (for analgesia), sinusoidal modulated currents (to eliminate dyspepsia and pain). After relieving the exacerbation, it is advisable to carry out mud and paraffin therapy, as well as mineral water treatment.

Food

Even if the patient is diagnosed with moderate antral gastritis, some restrictions should be introduced into his diet. Allowed to eat:

• Chicken boiled meat without skin or rabbit meat, fish;
• Porridge;
• Sweet berries;
• Soup - vegetable and pea;
• White bread crumbs;
• pasta;
• Cutlet steamed;
• Vegetable puree;
• Not strong tea.

The following products are banned:

• Smoked meat, spices, spices;
• Canned, fried and fatty foods;
• fast food;
• chocolate;
• Carbonated and spirituous beverages;
• Flour products;
• Products that can cause fermentation - black bread, sour cream, grapes, milk.

Herring, fried foods without breading, rich broths, caviar must return to the patient's diet carefully and only when the acute phase of the pathological state passes.

Moderate antral gastritis, as well as its heavier forms, requires caution when using the following products:

• Dried fruits (prunes, raisins, dates, figs);
• fat meat;
• Fresh bread;
• Products that include coarse fiber.

Prevention of antral gastritis

So, we discussed how antral gastritis is manifested and treated . What it is? This is a rather unpleasant affliction, and in order to avoid the development of a serious inflammatory process in the stomach, one should abandon all bad habits, start eating right, avoid emotional and physical overstrain and observe a normal daily routine.

If you start treatment in time, follow all the recommendations of the doctor, adhere to the correct diet and regime, then the forecast in this case is quite favorable. The triggered disease passes into a diffuse form, which can result in the formation of ulcers or stomach tumors.

Conclusion

Thus, you could see how cunning the antral gastritis. What it is? It is an inflammatory disease of one of the stomach parts, which can take a very long time without any symptoms at all. In neglected cases, it provokes the appearance of a stomach tumor and other serious pathologies, so it is so important to monitor your health and take preventive measures to prevent the development of such a disease.