Atrophic gastritis, symptoms and pathophysiology.

Atrophic gastritis, the symptoms of which are characterized by dyspepsia, pain in the epigastric region, is the occurrence of an autoimmune inflammatory reaction to the gastric mucosa, which helps to reduce the normal physiological recovery of cells in the gastric mucosa. As a result, atrophic changes in the membrane, motor (peristaltic) and gastric secretion-producing disorders occur . With such a disease as atrophic gastritis, the symptoms of the disease most often appear in middle age and in the elderly. Inflammatory reaction can capture not only the superficial epithelial layer and glandular apparatus, it can also spread to the entire mucous layer. In the most severe cases, the process can cover the interstitial and other layers of the stomach wall.

Atrophic gastritis, the symptoms and clinical manifestations of which are quite diverse, arises when exposed to external and internal factors. Exogenous factors include: bad and irregular meals, alcoholic beverages, long-term medication and others. Internal (endogenous) causes are chronic infections, concomitant diseases of organs participating in digestion, long intoxication in harmful production, hereditary predisposition.

Chronic gastritis gastroenterologists are divided into two forms: gastritis type A and B. Chronic atrophic gastritis refers to type A gastritis. This form of the disease is manifested by the appearance of autoimmune inflammation, which results in the production of antibodies to its own covering cells. As a result, their proteins become denatured, a cellular reaction and inflammation of the mucous membrane occur. A distinctive feature of this gastritis is a process aimed at the atrophy of the mucous membrane with a progressive decrease in the number of gastric lining cells. It is located mainly in the region of the bottom and body of the stomach, also release antral atrophic gastritis. The mucosal repair is broken, the formation of gastric juice decreases.

In the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis, symptoms are characterized by the appearance of a patient's complaints of not too pronounced, dull and persistent pain in the stomach, heartburn, dyspepsia, bloating and increased gas formation, stool. The intensity of manifestations depends on the number of active cells. With this disease, the formation and acidity of gastric juice decreases. As a result, the main symptom of atrophic gastritis is the severity of the stomach, a feeling of satiety after a small amount of food eaten. Often, atrophic gastritis is accompanied by other diseases of the digestive organs: pancreatitis, intestinal dysbiosis, cholecystitis. Atrophy of the mucosa causes a violation of the absorption of vitamin B12, often there is B12-deficiency anemia.

Diagnostic measures are reduced to the correct differential diagnosis between existing forms of gastritis. The main diagnostic measure is the implementation of fibroadastroduodenoscopy (FGS), taking a biopsy (piece of organ tissue). A biopsy is usually performed from several sites. Explore the secretory function of the stomach and the composition of the gastric juice.

Treatment of atrophic gastritis is complex and lasting. It is aimed at maintaining normal production of gastric juice, its acidity. At especially severe atrophy, substitution therapy is performed, prescribing hydrochloric acid in therapeutic concentration. The obligatory measure is a diet, a fractional food. Treatment in sanatoria with mineral springs is welcomed.