U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

  • Publications
  • Account settings
  • Browse Titles

NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.

Cover of StatPearls

StatPearls [Internet].

Samy A. Azer ; Ayoola O. Awosika ; Hossein Akhondi .

Affiliations

Last Update: October 30, 2023 .

  • Continuing Education Activity

Gastritis is a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the stomach lining. This condition can manifest in various forms—from mild and asymptomatic cases to severe presentations associated with significant morbidity. The current classification of gastritis is based on time course (acute versus chronic), histological features, anatomical distribution, and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Gastritis management has progressed due to advancements in diagnosis techniques and treatment options. Educating healthcare professionals about evidence-based approaches helps them make well-informed decisions about diagnosing, treating, and surveilling gastritis subtypes and severity specific to patients.

This activity describes the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, histopathology, evaluation, and recommended management of gastritis to enhance the competence of healthcare providers when delivering patient care. This comprehensive understanding of gastritis fosters effective communication and collaboration among interprofessional healthcare teams, leading to the early detection of premalignant lesions and improved clinical outcomes.

  • Identify the clinical presentations and risk factors associated with gastritis subtypes, including autoimmune, chemical, and  H pylori –induced gastritis, and develop a comprehensive treatment plan for patients.
  • Assess the severity and complications of gastritis, such as atrophic changes and metaplastic transformations, through histopathological evaluation and endoscopic findings.
  • Implement evidence-based diagnostic approaches, including endoscopy, histopathology, and laboratory tests, to confirm gastritis diagnosis and its underlying causes.
  • Collaborate with an interprofessional healthcare team of clinicians to develop comprehensive care plans for patients, including diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of gastritis and its complications.
  • Introduction

Gastritis refers to the inflammation of the gastric mucosa and is often used to describe the abnormal appearance of abnormal gastric mucosa on endoscopy or radiology. Gastritis encompasses infectious or immunological inflammation of the gastric mucosa and the host's response. [1]  Histopathological evidence of inflammation in the stomach lining is essential to diagnose this condition. Gastropathy is characterized as a gastric mucosal disorder without inflammation, often featuring epithelial injury and subsequent regeneration. [1]  Gastritis and gastropathy are not mutually exclusive conditions and might sometimes coexist. In clinical practice, gastritis may be accompanied by signs of mucosal injury, whereas gastropathy may show some evidence of an inflammatory reaction in the gastric mucosa.

Gastritis can be classified based on the acuity of the condition (acute versus chronic), the histological features of the inflammation, or its etiology. Although there is no universally accepted categorization and classification of gastritis, [1] it is crucial to understand the histological characteristics and etiological factors associated with the different types of gastritis to comprehend their presentation and classification. Appropriate histological evaluation is also essential in devising management plans for this disease. This review discusses the histological and morphological presentations of gastritis, assesses their prognostic significance, and outlines the guideline-recommended management approaches for these conditions. The primary objective of this topic is to improve patient outcomes by enhancing the competence of healthcare providers.

Acute Gastritis

Acute gastritis is a temporary inflammation of the stomach lining caused by stress on the gastric mucosa, manifesting as either hemorrhagic or non-hemorrhagic symptoms. This condition can develop due to various factors, including uremia, ischemia, shock, corrosive agents, medications, radiation, trauma, severe burns, sepsis, or alkaline-bile reflux. [1]  Certain infections, such as enteroviruses, can also cause a self-limited episode of gastritis. [2] Acute gastritis may result from reduced gastric mucus secretion, mucosal barrier disruption, or decreased mucosal blood flow, depending on the underlying cause.

Chronic Gastritis

Chronic gastritis can be categorized into 2 forms—atrophic and non-atrophic. The primary cause of chronic gastritis is a Helicobacter pylori  infection, which typically starts with a non-atrophic morphology. [3]  The non-atrophic form of chronic gastritis can progress to atrophic forms without proper treatment. The most common cause of atrophic chronic gastritis is autoimmune gastritis. The etiology of this entity remains unclear. Autoimmune gastritis exhibits a chronic mononuclear inflammation often accompanied by severe atrophic gastritis, which usually affects the corpus, along with the presence of autoantibodies against parietal cells or the intrinsic factor. However, it is unclear whether autoimmune gastritis is an independent disorder or if an H pylori infection triggers an autoimmune response in susceptible individuals. 

Reactive Gastritis

Reactive gastritis or gastropathy shares numerous causative factors with acute gastritis. Reactive gastritis may be caused by specific medications, alcohol consumption, radiation exposure, and duodenal (bile) reflux. [4] These causative agents lead to histological mucosal lesions characterized by low-grade inflammation of the gastric mucosa in these gastropathies. Although these entities are usually asymptomatic, they are revealed through endoscopy, often showing multiple erosions or ulcers without signs of atrophic changes. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat various malignancies has contributed to the incidence of reactive gastritis, although it remains considerably rare. [4]

The Sydney System of Classification for Gastritis

The Histological Division of the Sydney System was introduced in 1990 and has since become the most widely cited classification system for the morphological features of gastritis in endoscopic biopsies. [5] This system conveys information about the type, severity, and extent of gastric pathology. The primary aspect of conveying through the Sydney System of Classification is the topography of gastritis, which can be restricted to the antrum or corpus or involve the entire stomach (pan gastritis). If the etiology of the disease is known, it is added as a prefix to denote the topography. For instance, it would be labeled as "autoimmune corpus gastritis" if the disease is autoimmune in origin. [5]  The Sydney System of Classification further delineates 5 graded morphological variables that may be added as a suffix to the core topography. These variables include the type or chronicity of inflammation, gastritis activity, intestinal metaplasia, the extent of atrophy, and the presence or absence of  H pylori  organisms. [5]  The morphological features are graded as absent, mild, moderate, or severe. The Sydney System of Classification for Gastritis recommends at least 2 random biopsies from both the antrum and corpus, along with an additional biopsy from the incisura angularis. [1]  

Although the Sydney System of Classification provides a standardized and concise means of documenting the extent and severity of gastritis, it does not offer a method for predicting or forecasting future morphological changes. [5]

Classification of Gastritis Based on Etiological Factors

An alternative approach to classifying gastritis considers both the etiology of the inflammation and its chronicity. This approach categorizes gastritis into 3 main subtypes—acute, chronic, and "special." [4]  The particular subtypes include gastropathy and gastritis of unknown etiologies. 

Infectious gastritis is most commonly attributed to the widespread prevalence of H pylori infection worldwide. [3]  Other types of infectious gastritis include phlegmonous gastritis (caused by pyogenic bacteria), mycobacterial gastritis (caused by  Mycobacterium tuberculosis ), syphilitic gastritis, viral gastritis (caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes simplex virus (HSV)), parasitic gastritis (caused by Anisakis , Cryptosporidium , Ascaris lumbricoides , Giardia , Toxoplasma , and Schistosoma ), and fungal gastritis (caused by Candida , Aspergillus , Mucor , Coccidioides , Histoplasma , Cryptococcus neoformans , Pneumocystis carinii,  and Torulopsis glabrata ). [4]

Granulomatous gastritis is a "special" gastritis observed in patients with Crohn disease and sarcoidosis. Lymphocytic gastritis, collagenous gastritis, and eosinophilic gastritis are additional "special" subtypes of gastritis with unclear etiologies. [4] Lymphocytic and collagenous gastritis have been associated with celiac disease, whereas eosinophilic gastritis has a strong connection to atopic conditions and food allergens. [4]

According to the Kyoto Consensus Conference, a comprehensive classification of gastritis based on etiological factors was outlined as: [6]

  • Autoimmune gastritis
  • H pylori– induced gastritis
  • Bacterial gastritis other than H pylori
  • H heilmannii gastritis
  • Enterococcus gastritis
  • Mycobacteria gastritis
  • Secondary syphilitic gastritis
  • Gastric phlegmon
  • Enteroviral gastritis
  • CMV gastritis
  • Gastritis due to mucormycosis
  • Gastric candidiasis
  • Gastric histoplasmosis
  • Cryptosporidium gastritis
  • Gastric Strongyloides stercorale
  • Gastric anisakiasis
  • Drug-induced gastritis
  • Alcoholic gastritis
  • Radiation gastritis
  • Chemical gastritis
  • Gastritis due to duodenal reflux
  • Lymphocytic gastritis
  • Ménétrier disease
  • Allergic gastritis
  • Eosinophilic gastritis
  • Gastritis due to sarcoidosis
  • Gastritis due to vasculitis
  • Gastritis due to Crohn disease
  • Epidemiology

Determining the incidence of acute gastritis can be challenging due to the common causes of this condition, such as enterovirus infections, which typically result in mild and self-limited episodes that often go unreported. [2] Other factors leading to acute gastritis, such as sepsis, ischemia, and caustic injury, are relatively rare compared to chronic H pylori– associated gastritis and chronic atrophic (autoimmune) gastritis. Recent data shows chronic atrophic gastritis is estimated to affect approximately 25% of the global general population. Furthermore, the risk of developing chronic atrophic gastritis is about 2.4 times higher in individuals infected with H pylori. [7]

In Western populations, evidence indicates a declining incidence of infectious gastritis caused by H pylori and an increasing prevalence of autoimmune gastritis. [8] Autoimmune gastritis is more prevalent in women and older individuals, with estimated rates ranging from 2% to 5%. However, the available data may have limited reliability. [8] [9]

Chronic H pylori– associated nonatrophic gastritis continues to be prevalent in developing countries. [3]  In Western populations, the prevalence of H pylori infection in children is approximately 10%, whereas it is significantly higher, approximately 50%, in developing countries. [10] [11] The prevalence of H pylori infection in developing countries varies significantly based on geographical region and socioeconomic conditions. For instance, it is estimated to be approximately 69% in Africa, 78% in South America, and 51% in Asia. [12]  

Socioeconomic and environmental factors are crucial in the global transmission of  H pylori infections. These factors encompass family hygiene practices, household overcrowding, and dietary habits. The pediatric origin of H pylori infection is currently considered the primary determinant of H pylori– associated gastritis within a community. [3]

The estimated prevalence of atrophic gastritis in the United States can be as high as 15%. [13]  Current estimates suggest that this prevalence is likely higher in populations with a higher baseline prevalence of H pylori  infection, such as non-White racial and ethnic minorities and first-generation immigrants from countries with a high prevalence of H pylori infections.

Atrophic gastritis not associated with H pylori infection is relatively uncommon, with an estimated prevalence of 0.5% to 2%, which is likely an overestimation. [13] The coexistence of other autoimmune diseases increases the prevalence of this condition, with up to one-third of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease having coexistent autoimmune gastritis. In contrast to  H pylori– associated atrophic gastritis, purely autoimmune gastritis does not exhibit racial or ethnic variations. [13]

  • Pathophysiology

H   pylori– Associated Gastritis

H pylori is a flagellated gram-negative bacterium that can be transmitted through environmental factors or the fecal-oral or oral-oral routes. [1] The pathophysiology of H pylori– induced gastritis involves a complex interaction between bacterial virulence factors and the host's immune responses. This interplay disrupts the gastric mucosal barrier and leads to chronic inflammation.  H pylori possesses various virulence factors that facilitate cell adhesion, including BabA/B, sabA, and OipA, cause cell damage, disrupt tight junctions, including Ure A/B, and evade the host immune response, including LPS. Notably, the cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) is a potent inducer of inflammation and is associated with the development of gastric cancer. [14]

The survival and colonization of H pylori  in the stomach depend on the urease produced by the bacterium. Urease catalyzes urea hydrolysis, releasing ammonia and forming a protective layer around the bacterium. [15] The ammonia also helps neutralize the acidic microenvironment of the stomach, allowing the bacterium to thrive in the stomach's low pH conditions. [16]  Subsequently, the flagellum and other mucolytic enzymes assist the organism to penetrate the mucus layer and reach the gastric epithelium, ultimately attaching itself to the epithelial cells. [17]

The attachment of H pylori to the epithelial cells triggers an inflammatory response, which is the distinguishing characteristic of gastritis. Host macrophages and activated T-cells take up various antigenic substrates from the organism. [18]  The recruited T-cells are paradoxically inhibited by the expression of B7-H1 (programmed death-1 ligand 1) on gastric epithelial cells. Studies have shown that  H pylori induces B7-H1 expression on gastric epithelial cells, which is believed to contribute to the chronicity of the bacterial infection. [19]  Further stimulation of inflammation occurs through an  H pylori– induced increase in interleukin (IL)-8 production by the gastric epithelial cells. [20] IL-8 subsequently triggers the activation of neutrophils and the recruitment of other inflammatory cells into the mucosa. Persistent inflammation ultimately leads to the depletion of gastrin-producing (G) cells and acid-producing parietal cells in the gastric mucosa. [21]  Over time, atrophy and intestinal metaplasia develop.

Autoimmune Gastritis

Autoimmune metaplastic atrophic gastritis develops due to T-cell – mediated destruction of the oxyntic mucosa and the production of autoantibodies targeting parietal cells and the intrinsic factor. A proposed mechanism for this disease in patients with H pylori -induced atrophic gastritis outlines a crossover of antigenic activity directed against the bacterium and toward host antigens in the region, including parietal cells and the intrinsic factor. [8]  In primary autoimmune atrophic gastritis, the immune response is directed against these antigens irrespective of an H pylori infection. However, the molecular factors driving the autoimmune response and initiating the pathogenesis of the condition remain unidentified. [8]  Over time, the immune-mediated destruction of the oxyntic mucosa leads to the presence of mucous cells and metaplastic glands, including both intestinal and pseudo-pyloric types, within the gastric mucosa. [8]

  • Histopathology

Histologically, gastritis is confirmed by at least grade 2 neutrophils or mononuclear cells in at least 1 gastric biopsy site or grade 1 neutrophils or mononuclear cells in at least 2 places. [22] The Sydney System of Classification recommends obtaining histological specimens from 5 distinct gastric locations, including the antrum (greater and lesser curvature), incisura, and corpus (greater and lesser curvature). Specimens should be individually placed into separate vials and grouped based on the location of the lesion. This approach enhances the chances of identifying H pylori and reduces the likelihood of missing the diagnosis.

Normal Histology of the Gastric Mucosa

The gastric mucosa is divided into 2 main zones—the oxyntic region, comprising the fundus and corpus, and the mucous-secreting region, consisting of the antrum and incisura angularis. Within the oxyntic mucosa, specialized glands containing parietal (oxyntic) cells, chief (zymogenic) cells, and enterochromaffin cells can be observed. [4] The parietal cells are characterized by their large size, high acidophilia, and round or pyramidal shape, whereas the chief cells are smaller and exhibit basophilia. The antral mucosa is characterized by gastric pits, or foveolae, abundant in mucous-producing cells. These foveolar cells are columnar and possess a pale eosinophilic cytoplasm. [4] The cells located deep within the gastric pits are called mucous neck cells, and they mature as they move up the gland to replace the surface mucous cells.

The presence of intermediate mucosa aids in identifying the transitional boundaries between the antrum and body, body and cardia, and antrum and duodenum. The transitional zones exhibit a gradual merging of the various mucosal types. The most informative histological indicator of the transition from the body to the antrum is the absence of chief cells and a shift in the shape of the glands from simple tubular glands to branched glands. [4] The oxyntic mucosa exhibits short gastric foveolae with long, densely packed glands. In contrast, roughly 50% of the mucosal thickness in the antral region comprises large mucus-producing glands lined by foveolar cells. In the cardia, gastric foveoli are abundant, and the presence of chief and parietal cells is infrequent. The transitional zone between the body and cardia is where the chief and parietal cells become abundant. [4]  

Histological Features of Gastritis

H pylori  is a spiral-shaped bacterium observed in gastric biopsy specimens and may be detected through hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. [4] The sensitivity and specificity of the H&E stain for detecting the bacterium are approximately 69% to 93% and 87% to 90%, respectively. The specificity of H&E stain increases from 90% to 100% when specialized staining methods, including modified Giemsa, Warthin-Starry silver, Genta, and immunohistochemical (IHC), are used. [23]  

The Giemsa stain is easy to use and cost-effective, rendering it the preferred method in many laboratories. The Genta stain effectively visualizes the inflammatory cells and H pylori by combining silver, H&E, and Alcian blue stains. [23]  The advantage of IHC stain is its ability to detect the organism in patients who have undergone partial treatment for H pylori gastritis, as the organism may assume atypical forms (such as coccoid) in such cases. [23]  In nearly all cases,  H pylori– associated gastritis typically presents with diffuse or nodular lymphocytic inflammation. [4]

In acute H pylori gastritis, there is neutrophilic infiltration of the mucous neck region, along with signs of mucin loss and desquamation of surface foveolar cells. Over time, lymphoid follicles develop, which are not commonly found in otherwise normal gastric mucosa. [24]  

Due to persistent low-grade inflammation, reactive gastritis or gastropathies are characterized by foveolar hyperplasia and vascular ectasia, edema, and muscularis mucosae hyperplasia. [4]

The early phase of autoimmune atrophic gastritis reveals nonspecific changes characterized by infiltrating lymphocytes and plasma cells into the oxyntic mucosa. Patchy destruction of oxyntic glands can be seen, and the parietal cells exhibit pseudo-hypertrophic changes. As the disease progresses, diffuse lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the lamina propria and significant atrophy of oxyntic glands will be seen. Foveolar hyperplasia with an increase in the thickness of the foveolar component is also evident. Marked pseudopyloric metaplasia is often seen with an increasing abundance of intestinal metaplasia. These distinctive changes in the oxyntic mucosa, coupled with the absence of inflammatory and atrophic changes in the antral mucosa, are pathognomonic for autoimmune gastritis. The lack of oxyntic glands, a marked presence of foveolar hyperplasia, and the development of hyperplastic and inflammatory polyps characterize the end stage of autoimmune gastritis. Metaplastic changes, including pseudopyloric, pancreatic, and intestinal metaplasia, become evident with a significant reduction in inflammatory cells. [4]

Pseudopyloric metaplasia, also known as spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM), is characterized by the replacement of parietal and chief cells by mucus-secreting cells of the antral mucosa. [25] The precursors for these cells are the chief cells of the oxyntic glands. [26]  Pseudopyloric metaplasia consists of coiled glands that are less abundant and contain considerably less mucin than normal antral glands. Another distinctive feature is the absence of endocrine cells, particularly gastrin-secreting G cells, which are typically abundant in normal antral mucosa. [27]

Intestinal metaplasia is characterized by the substitution of gastric mucosa, either oxyntic or antral, with intestinal epithelium. The presence of goblet cells is indicative of intestinal metaplasia. [28] Intestinal metaplasia can be either complete, displaying fully formed small intestinal epithelium, or incomplete, showing features of colonic epithelium without well-defined brush border cells. Incomplete intestinal metaplasia characterized by goblet cells resembling colonic epithelium and containing sulfomucins is called type III intestinal metaplasia. This particular metaplasia has been associated with an elevated risk of gastric cancer. [29]  Notably, this is not an obligatory precancerous lesion that raises questions about the usefulness of subcategorizing intestinal metaplasia in this manner. [30]

Lymphocytic gastritis is characterized by the presence of a minimum of 25 intraepithelial lymphocytes per 100 gastric epithelial cells. [4] The predominant phenotype consists of CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Although the etiology of this condition is unclear, it has been linked to H pylori infection and celiac disease. [4] In eosinophilic gastritis, the diagnosis is confirmed by the presence of an average density of over 127 eosinophils per square millimeter or more than 30 eosinophils per high-power field (HPF) in at least 5 separate HPFs, with no known associated causes of eosinophilia. It is essential to rule out the presence of H pylori infection, Crohn disease, parasitic infections, and other hematological or lymphoid disorders to establish the diagnosis. [4] Collagenous gastritis is characterized by subepithelial collagen bands, typically thicker than 10 μm, along with inflammatory mononuclear cells in the lamina propria. [4]

Emphysematous gastritis is characterized by the presence of air in the gastric wall, usually caused by a bacterial infection of the gastric wall. [31]  Although this condition is rare, it is associated with a high mortality rate, with some reports indicating a rate of up to 60%.

  • History and Physical

As gastritis is often difficult to diagnose based on clinical symptoms alone, a histologic or endoscopic examination is necessary, which may not correlate with symptom severity. Acute gastritis may manifest with a sudden onset of epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting (dyspepsia), which typically resolves independently. Although chronic gastritis is often used synonymously with dyspeptic symptoms, the presence of symptoms poorly correlates with the actual histological or endoscopic diagnosis of gastritis. [6]  

H pylori– associated chronic gastritis may remain asymptomatic and gradually progress to severe complications such as gastric cancer. However, the rate of progression is highly unpredictable. [6]  Notably, not every patient with chronic dyspepsia is infected with H pylori . An initial or acute infection with H pylori may induce acute dyspepsia in some patients, which typically resolves independently. Although persistent colonization invariably leads to chronic gastritis, the majority of the individuals experience only transient dyspeptic symptoms. [6]  Therefore, according to the current consensus, patients are considered to have  H pylori– induced dyspepsia if their symptoms improve after successful eradication therapy. However, successful eradication therapy does not immediately improve symptoms and may take up to 6 months to show improvement. [6]

In contrast, functional dyspepsia is characterized by the presence of persistent dyspeptic symptoms, such as postprandial fullness, early satiation, epigastric pain, or burning sensation, in the absence of structural abnormalities that can account for these symptoms, as confirmed by upper endoscopy. [6] As per current consensus guidelines, individuals who persistently experience chronic dyspeptic symptoms, even after successful H pylori eradication therapy, should be diagnosed with functional dyspepsia. [6]

Similar to acute or H pylori– induced gastritis, autoimmune gastritis is often asymptomatic, and patients typically seek medical attention incidentally when diagnosed with megaloblastic, pernicious, or iron-deficiency anemias. [32]  Although gastrointestinal symptoms are rare among individuals with autoimmune gastritis, most patients typically report postprandial dyspepsia when symptoms manifest. [32]  Less frequently, patients may report nonspecific epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, functional abdominal pain syndrome, and functional bloating. [32]  

Due to the high prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms worldwide, it is essential to interpret them cautiously. Certain studies suggest that dyspeptic symptoms, such as early satiety and postprandial fullness, may correlate with autoimmune gastritis, particularly in younger patients without anemia or a smoking history or who are not currently smoking. [32]

Autoimmune gastritis often occurs concomitantly with other autoimmune disorders, primarily thyroid diseases. These associated autoimmune conditions may include Hashimoto thyroiditis, Addison disease, chronic spontaneous urticaria, myasthenia gravis, type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, and perioral cutaneous autoimmune disorders, especially erosive oral lichen planus. [33] The association between chronic atrophic autoimmune gastritis and autoimmune thyroid disease led to the coining of the term "thyrogastric syndrome" in the early 1960s to describe this correlation.

The diagnosis of gastritis primarily relies on histopathological examination of gastric biopsies. Although medical history and laboratory tests can provide valuable insights, endoscopy, and biopsy are the gold standards for diagnosing gastritis, as they help identify its distribution, severity, and underlying cause. [34]  

Evaluation of Dyspepsia and H pylori Testing

The evaluation of gastritis should follow a stepwise process to ensure the correct cause is identified while minimizing unnecessary invasive testing. In patients suspected of having functional dyspepsia, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is not required to make the diagnosis. [35]  However, an evaluation for the presence of H pylori infection is indicated.

According to current guidelines on the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia, patients with new-onset symptoms at an advanced age, weight loss, evidence of bleeding, dysphagia, the presence of an abdominal mass, fever, persistent vomiting, or a family history of esophageal or gastric cancer should be regarded as having alarm signs. These individuals warrant further investigation and testing for the presence of an H pylori infection. [35]  In most cases, this testing involves an upper gastrointestinal endoscopic evaluation and a comprehensive histological examination of biopsy samples collected during the endoscopy. However, it is not recommended to perform endoscopic evaluation to rule out gastric malignancy in patients younger than 60, presenting with dyspepsia but without a family history of gastric cancer. [36]

Limited clinical utility exists in using gastrointestinal function tests to differentiate patients with organic causes of functional dyspepsia from those with true functional dyspepsia. Consequently, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) guidelines and the Asian consensus for functional dyspepsia do not recommend the routine use of functional gastrointestinal testing in patients experiencing these symptoms. [35]  

Investigating the presence of H pylori is recommended and warrants thorough evaluation. The urea breath test and the H pylori stool antigen test are suggested for this assessment. [37] According to a recent Cochrane review, the authors concluded that in patients without a prior history of gastrectomy or current antibiotic or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, urea breath testing was found to be more diagnostically accurate than other noninvasive measures such as serology or stool antigen detection. [37] As per most consensus statements, a single positive noninvasive test, such as the urea breath or stool antigen test, can initiate eradication treatment in patients with dyspepsia, even without any alarm symptoms. [37]  

In addition, noninvasive testing can also be used to confirm the effectiveness of eradication treatment in patients who do not necessitate endoscopy for other indications. In such cases, noninvasive testing to detect H pylori after eradication therapy should be performed 4 to 6 weeks after the completion of antibiotics or PPI therapy. [37]  

In patients aged 60 or older with dyspepsia, it is recommended to undergo endoscopy and histological evaluation for gastritis assessment and classification. [37]  

Atrophic Gastritis Diagnosis

The diagnosis of autoimmune gastritis is based on laboratory and histological examinations, which typically involve the following criteria: [38] [39]

  • Evidence of atrophic gastritis affecting the gastric corpus (body) and fundus.
  • The presence of autoantibodies against the intrinsic factor and parietal cells.
  • Serum pepsinogen I levels.
  • The ratio of pepsinogen I to pepsinogen II.

Pernicious anemia is a type of macrocytic anemia often associated with atrophic gastritis and is characterized by the presence of antibodies against parietal cells or intrinsic factors. Additional tests that may be relevant for diagnosing autoimmune gastritis include gastrin-17 levels, anti- H pylori antibodies, cytokines such as IL-8, and ghrelin, a growth hormone-releasing peptide primarily produced by the gastric fundus mucosa. [40]  

Recognizing pernicious anemia as a late manifestation of autoimmune gastritis is crucial. Although anti-parietal cell antibodies represent the most sensitive serum biomarker for autoimmune atrophic gastritis, their specificity is compromised, as they may also be elevated in individuals with an H pylori infection and other autoimmune conditions. In contrast, anti-intrinsic factor antibodies have low sensitivity but high specificity for this disorder. These serologic markers can often predate the clinical presentation of autoimmune gastritis; therefore, patients with a new diagnosis of pernicious anemia should undergo endoscopy with topographical biopsies to assess for the presence of atrophic gastritis. [13]  

As per the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Clinical Practice Update on the diagnosis and management of atrophic gastritis in 2021, a histopathological assessment is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis. [13]  The presence of intestinal metaplasia on gastric histology is pathognomonic for atrophic gastritis.

From an endoscopic perspective, atrophic gastritis manifests as pale gastric mucosa, noticeable mucosal thinning indicated by enhanced vasculature visibility, and the loss of gastric folds. [13]  The use of high-definition white-light endoscopy (HD-WLE) and narrow-band imaging (NBI) demonstrates a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 97% for detecting intestinal metaplasia, even without magnifying endoscopy. [13]  On HD-WLE, metaplastic areas appear slightly nodular with tubulovillous mucosal patterns. Fine, blue-white crests on the epithelial surface are diagnostic for intestinal metaplasia during endoscopy, with sensitivity and specificity approaching 90%. [13] Microscopic lipid accumulation within the mucosa of gastric tumors and regions with intestinal metaplasia presents as white opaque fields with a diagnostic specificity nearing 100%. Notably, the sensitivity of this endoscopic finding is relatively limited. [13] Biopsies should be obtained from the suspected atrophic or metaplastic areas and forwarded for histopathological analysis to confirm the diagnosis and assess risk stratification.

As per AGA recommendations, adhering to the updated Sydney protocol for obtaining topographical biopsies during the evaluation of atrophic gastritis is advised. This involves taking 5 separate biopsies, each placed in appropriately labeled containers, from the following locations: [13]

  • The lesser curvature of the antrum, situated within 2 to 3 cm from the pylorus.
  • The greater curvature of the antrum, located within 2 to 3 cm from the pylorus.
  • The lesser curvature of the gastric corpus, approximately 4 cm proximal to the incisura angularis.
  • The greater curvature of the gastric corpus, positioned 8 cm from the cardia.
  • The incisura angularis.

Upon establishing the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis, testing for H pylori is recommended if atrophic gastritis is not previously tested. In the event of a positive result, eradication treatment should be administered, followed by subsequent testing to confirm the success of eradication. [13]

Additional testing, including anti-parietal cell antibodies and anti-intrinsic factor antibodies, should be considered. In addition, further serological testing to assess the presence of anemia resulting from vitamin B-12 and iron deficiencies is advisable. For individuals with advanced atrophic gastritis, it is prudent to consider scheduling surveillance endoscopies every 3 years to monitor for the potential development of gastric malignancies. [13]  

If accessible, serological testing for pepsinogens I and II can provide valuable insights into assessing patients with atrophic gastritis. In areas with a high incidence of gastric cancer, serum pepsinogen I levels below 70 μg/L and a low pepsinogen I to pepsinogen II ratio have high sensitivity and specificity for indicating severe corpus atrophy. [13]

  • Treatment / Management

As mentioned earlier, eradicating H pylori is recommended for all patients with evidence of gastritis on diagnostic testing. Furthermore, eradication therapy serves as the initial treatment option for patients with dyspepsia who have a documented  H pylori infection. [6] In addition,  H pylori eradication therapy is indicated in patients displaying evidence of peptic ulcer disease, functional dyspepsia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), unexplained iron-deficiency anemia, and in cases where long-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment is anticipated, particularly in patients with a history of peptic ulcer disease. [37] In patients with functional dyspepsia, eradication therapy has a limited impact on symptom relief. Nonetheless, it proves highly advantageous in mitigating the risk of peptic ulcer disease development in these individuals. [41]  

Eradication therapy for H pylori in patients with non-atrophic chronic gastritis is highly recommended, as it promotes healing and reduces the risk of gastric cancer in these patients. [42] For patients with atrophic gastritis, eradication therapy targeted at the organism may result in partial regression of the gastritis and offer some potential benefits in reducing the risk of gastric cancer. Although the eradication therapy in patients with intestinal metaplasia does not reverse the metaplastic changes, it may slow its progression to neoplasia without substantial evidence of reducing the overall risk of gastric cancer. Therefore, there is a cautious or weak recommendation for consideration in this context. [42]  

Chronic gastritis management in patients who initially test negative for H pylori lacks standardized guidelines and tends to exhibit significant variability. Empirical use of PPIs has demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating symptoms for these patients. [43] According to current guidelines, empiric PPI therapy is recommended for individuals younger than 60 with dyspepsia if they test negative for  H pylori  or experience persistent symptoms despite undergoing eradication therapy. [36] Patients who do not experience relief from these treatments may be considered for prokinetic therapy or tricyclic antidepressants. Notably, the supporting evidence for this recommendation is of low-to-moderate quality. [36]

Currently, definitive treatment does not exist for patients with atrophic gastritis. The pivotal aspect in treating patients with atrophic gastritis is the application of risk stratification systems to assess the severity of the disease and determine the risk of gastric malignancies. For this purpose, utilizing the Operative Link on Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) and Operative Link on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Assessment (OLGIM) grading systems is recommended. [6] Staging gastritis using the OLGA and OLGIM systems, with a stage III or IV classification, is associated with a significantly elevated risk of gastric cancer. This approach provides an easily translated method for assessing attributable risk. [6] These systems incorporate atrophy scores obtained through histological assessment of gastric biopsies and consider atrophy topography to assign clinical stages. [44]  

Histological Grading of Gastritis

In normal gastric mucosa, an acceptable range is typically 2 to 5 lymphocytes, plasma cells, or macrophages per HPF, or 2 to 3 of these cells located between foveolae. [4]  The degree of increase from these numbers determines the severity of gastritis, which is graded as mild (+--), moderate (++-), or marked (+++). Notably, this density measurement should be performed away from any lymphoid follicles present, as they could be related to an underlying H pylori infection. Lymphocytic gastritis occurs when more than 25 lymphocytes are observed per 100 epithelial cells within the glandular epithelium. [4]

The density of neutrophils measures the activity of gastritis. The grading of gastritis activity is followed as—Neutrophils in the lamina propria indicate mild (+--) activity, neutrophils within the epithelium denote moderate (++-) activity and neutrophils in the glandular lumen signify marked (+++) activity. [4]

The discrepancy between the expected glands for the anatomical site of the gastric mucosa and what is actually observed represents atrophy. A reduction or complete absence of glandular units leads to collagen deposition in the lamina propria. Metaplastic changes involve the replacement of normal glandular units with metaplastic and/or dysplastic units. A score of 1 is allocated when there is a 1 to 30% loss of the glandular architecture and/or its metaplastic transformation, a score of 2 is assigned for a 31 to 60% loss, and a score of 3 is designated for a loss exceeding 60%. 

The OLGA staging system categorizes gastritis into 5 stages, each associated with a progressively higher risk of cancer, determined by the atrophy score. [4]  In addition, an overall atrophy score based on topography is assigned, and these scores are then tallied to determine the corresponding OLGA stage. Although the OLGIM staging system relies solely on intestinal metaplasia for the atrophy score, which enhances its inter-observer reproducibility, it results in a notable decrease in sensitivity for identifying high-risk patients. [4]

Patients classified as OLGA/OLGIM stage III or IV face a considerable risk of developing gastric adenocarcinoma. As a result, regular surveillance endoscopy is strongly recommended for these individuals, as it can enhance the chances of detecting gastric cancer in its early stages, potentially enabling curative surgical treatment. [13]  The AGA recommends endoscopic surveillance every 3 years in these patients. Other clinical factors that should be considered when determining the frequency of surveillance include a family history of gastric cancer, residence in regions with a high incidence of gastric cancer, a history of persistent H pylori infection, smoking history, and dietary factors. [13]

  • Differential Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of gastritis encompasses the following conditions:

  • Functional dyspepsia
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Gastric cancer
  • Cholecystitis
  • Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
  • Pancreatitis
  • Myocardial ischemia
  • Gastric lymphoma
  • Celiac disease
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasias

The prognosis of gastritis varies based on the type, underlying cause, and individual patient characteristics. With appropriate management, many cases of gastritis can be effectively controlled, and the risk of complications can be minimized. Acute gastritis secondary to ischemia and emphysematous gastritis can have inferior outcomes if the underlying cause is not treated promptly and adequately. 

In contrast, the prognosis of atrophic gastritis, however, depends on the severity of atrophy or metaplasia. Numerous studies have reported an elevated risk of gastric malignancies in individuals with atrophic gastritis. The primary management approach for this condition is focused on staging to facilitate early detection of such complications. A study reported an annual incidence rate of 0.25% per person-year for gastric cancer and 0.68% for type I gastric carcinoids in patients with atrophic gastritis. [45]  The incidence of gastric adenocarcinoma is reported to be around 14.2 cases per 1000 person-years in individuals with autoimmune metaplastic atrophic gastritis compared to 0.073 cases in the general population. [46] The pattern, extent, and severity of atrophy are the most critical predictive factors for an elevated cancer risk in patients with atrophic gastritis. Conversely, the subtypes of gastrointestinal metaplasia offer limited prognostic value. [47]  

Studies from different regions worldwide present conflicting data on the effectiveness of H pylori treatment in reducing cancer risk due to significant geographic variation in malignancy risk. Nevertheless, the consensus remains that eradication treatment improves prognosis. A systematic review indicated a one-third reduction in cancer risk following successful H pylori eradication. [47]  The literature highlights a "point of no return" phenomenon, with studies showing a reduced incidence of gastric cancer in patients who were H pylori carriers without precancerous lesions, such as atrophic gastritis or gastrointestinal metaplasia. [47]  

  • Complications

H pylori– induced gastritis can lead to various conditions, including peptic ulcer disease, ITP, iron-deficiency anemia, and vitamin B12 deficiency. [48] Recent reports have also indicated a potential association with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. [49] The hypothesized mechanism underlying these associations involves molecular mimicry and the chronic state of low-grade inflammation. [48]  However, currently, there is insufficient evidence to firmly establish a causal link between gastritis and these metabolic conditions. [50]

Gastric cancer represents the most severe complication of atrophic gastritis. [47] The presence of atrophic gastritis and gastrointestinal metaplasia substantially elevates the risk of this complication compared to chronic gastritis in the absence of these lesions. The severity of atrophy also amplifies the associated risk, with a relative risk of 1.7% for gastric cancer in cases of moderate atrophic gastritis and 4.9% relative risk in cases of severe atrophic gastritis, in contrast to no elevated risk when only mild atrophic changes are present. [47]

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is associated with  H pylori– induced gastritis, with histological evidence suggesting that lymphoma originates from B-cell clones in the site where chronic gastritis was previously sampled. [51]  Recent molecular studies have shown a strong correlation between  H pylori  infection and gastric mucosa - associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. These studies demonstrate the translocation of the bacterial protein CagA into human B lymphoid cells, leading to the activation of cellular signaling pathways that inhibit apoptosis. [52]  The most compelling evidence of the association between H pylori– induced gastritis and "MALTomas" is derived from studies documenting the complete regression of early-stage gastric B-cell lymphoma after H pylori eradication therapy. [53]

Gastric neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) represent another known complication of atrophic gastritis. The prognosis of these lesions is contingent on factors such as tumor size, mitotic activity, and the extent of invasion. [13] Small NETs can often be managed with endoscopic resection and carry a low risk of metastasis. In contrast, larger tumors exceeding 2 cm have been associated with a reported metastasis rate of nearly 20%. [13]

Both autoimmune and H pylori –induced gastritis can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. [54] A retrospective analysis of premenopausal women with iron deficiency reported that 18.5% of the patients were seropositive for anti-parietal cell antibodies. [55]  The association between H pylori infection and iron-deficiency anemia is particularly evident in individuals with unexplained iron deficiency. Some expert guidelines even advocate screening and treating H pylori in patients with recurrent or treatment-resistant iron-deficiency anemia and normal upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies. [50]

ITP is another recognized complication of gastritis. Consensus guidelines for managing ITP recommend screening for H pylori infection in adult patients with ITP. [50]

  • Deterrence and Patient Education

Patient education plays a crucial role in managing gastritis, as it empowers individuals to take proactive measures to prevent its onset or recurrence and to manage this condition effectively. In  H pylori– induced gastritis cases, educating patients on a few critical aspects is essential, as mentioned below.

Mode of transmission: Patients should be informed about the mode of transmission of H pylori , which is typically through close person-to-person contact. They should also be educated about emphasizing the importance of practicing good hygiene to reduce the risk of infection.

Preventative measures:  Patients must be educated about various preventive measures, including avoiding contaminated food and water sources, as these actions can significantly reduce the risk of H pylori infection.

Antibiotic treatment: Patients diagnosed with an H pylori infection should complete the entire course of antibiotics their clinician prescribes. This step is crucial to ensure the complete eradication of the bacteria and minimize the risk of recurrence. [56]

For patients with autoimmune gastritis and vitamin B12 deficiency, it is crucial to provide education regarding the significance of consistent vitamin B12 supplementation. This measure helps prevent anemia and other associated complications. Patients should be informed about potential complications of gastritis, such as bleeding or peptic ulcers, and the importance of seeking immediate medical care if these complications arise. 

Furthermore, educating patients about the potential risks associated with prolonged or excessive use of medications that can trigger or worsen gastritis, such as NSAIDs and aspirin, is essential. This knowledge can help patients make informed decisions about their medication use and take steps to minimize the risk of exacerbating their gastritis.

Mass screening for H pylori,  followed by eradication therapy, has garnered recent attention. National guidelines for mass screening differ from country to country, and in regions with a low prevalence of H pylori infection, most guidelines advise against mass screening. [37] In some cases, 'screen-and-treat' strategies are recommended for communities at high risk of gastric cancer and are generally considered cost-effective in these regions. A substantial population-based screen-and-treat trial conducted in a high-incidence rural area of China demonstrated good compliance and the feasibility of this approach. However, it is noteworthy that long-term follow-up data regarding its efficacy in preventing gastric cancer are still pending. [50]

A significant concern associated with implementing these screening programs is the risk of antibiotic resistance. For instance, in a placebo-controlled trial involving healthy volunteers, the use of clarithromycin at a dosage of 500 mg twice daily for the shortest recommended duration of 7 days for H pylori eradication has been shown to increase the resistance of macrolide-resistant pharyngeal Streptococcus pneumoniae . [50] Expert guidelines strongly discourage the use of antibiotics commonly used for treating life-threatening infections, including macrolides, penicillins, and fluoroquinolones, to eradicate  H pylori in gastritis treatment. When strategizing public health campaigns to eradicate  H pylori , it is recommended to consider medications such as bismuth, tetracycline, and metronidazole. Rifabutin may also be contemplated, as short-term usage of this agent is unlikely to contribute significantly to mycobacterial resistance against it. [50]

  • Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Gastritis is primarily diagnosed histologically and is prevalent globally, often stemming from various causes. This condition typically presents with nonspecific symptoms, and the most severe forms are usually identified by astute clinical judgment and diligent adherence to recommended guidelines for assessing asymptomatic patients with anemia, thrombocytopenia, or vague gastrointestinal symptoms. Primary care clinicians must familiarize themselves with the current guideline-recommended approach for evaluating patients with dyspepsia and become proficient in assessing unexplained iron-deficiency anemia. This approach of enhancing the competence of healthcare providers enables the early identification of patients with gastritis, potentially recognizing those with premalignant atrophy before it advances to dysplasia. 

Treatment approaches can significantly differ depending on the subtype and stage of gastritis, particularly when atrophic changes are evident. Close coordination and effective communication between the endoscopist and the pathologist are pivotal in arriving at an accurate diagnosis and assigning the appropriate stage to a patient's gastritis. 

The clinical nurse assumes a central role in patient education about their disease process and engaging them in their care. Educating patients about the pathogenesis of H pylori– associated gastritis and the risk of developing cancer is crucial. This promotes patient involvement in treatment programs, encourages adherence to antibiotic therapy, and ensures follow-up testing to confirm eradication.

The clinical pharmacist is critical in ensuring patient adherence to medication during H pylori eradication therapy and adjusting medication regimens to minimize adverse outcomes. Pharmacists specializing in infectious diseases are integral to the success of eradication therapy, as they assist clinicians in designing antibiotic regimens that align with local resistance patterns. 

Public health specialists also have a significant role in preventing gastritis-associated malignancies. They are responsible for developing suitable screen-and-treat programs, particularly in high-prevalence regions. 

A collaborative effort involving an interprofessional healthcare team of clinicians, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and public health experts, can substantially reduce the incidence of gastritis and enhance clinical outcomes by lowering the risk of gastric malignancies linked to the disease.

  • Review Questions
  • Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.
  • Comment on this article.

Histopathology of Chronic Gastritis. This slide shows gastric mucosal atrophy with high lymphocytic infiltrate. Contributed by Ayoola Awosika, MD, MS

H. pylori  Gastritis. A spiral-shaped bacterium seen on H&E staining. Contributed by Ayoola Awosika, MD, MS

Disclosure: Samy Azer declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Ayoola Awosika declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Hossein Akhondi declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

This book is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ), which permits others to distribute the work, provided that the article is not altered or used commercially. You are not required to obtain permission to distribute this article, provided that you credit the author and journal.

  • Cite this Page Azer SA, Awosika AO, Akhondi H. Gastritis. [Updated 2023 Oct 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.

In this Page

Bulk download.

  • Bulk download StatPearls data from FTP

Related information

  • PMC PubMed Central citations
  • PubMed Links to PubMed

Similar articles in PubMed

  • Review AGA Clinical Practice Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Atrophic Gastritis: Expert Review. [Gastroenterology. 2021] Review AGA Clinical Practice Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Atrophic Gastritis: Expert Review. Shah SC, Piazuelo MB, Kuipers EJ, Li D. Gastroenterology. 2021 Oct; 161(4):1325-1332.e7. Epub 2021 Aug 26.
  • Review [Gastritis and gastropathy]. [Orv Hetil. 2014] Review [Gastritis and gastropathy]. Mihály E, Micsik T, Juhász M, Herszényi L, Tulassay Z. Orv Hetil. 2014 Jan 12; 155(2):43-61.
  • Suicidal Ideation. [StatPearls. 2024] Suicidal Ideation. Harmer B, Lee S, Rizvi A, Saadabadi A. StatPearls. 2024 Jan
  • Review [Gastric mucosa as a target of persistent proinflammatory aggression: pathogenic models of chronic gastritis]. [Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009] Review [Gastric mucosa as a target of persistent proinflammatory aggression: pathogenic models of chronic gastritis]. Sánchez-Fayos Calabuig P, Martín Relloso MJ, Porres Cubero JC. Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 Apr; 32(4):294-306. Epub 2009 Apr 22.
  • Pediatric Helicobacter pylori gastropathy demonstrates a unique pattern of gastric foveolar hyperplasia. [Helicobacter. 2018] Pediatric Helicobacter pylori gastropathy demonstrates a unique pattern of gastric foveolar hyperplasia. Saghier S, Schwarz SM, Anderson V, Gupta R, Heidarian A, Rabinowitz SS. Helicobacter. 2018 Jun; 23(3):e12487. Epub 2018 Apr 25.

Recent Activity

  • Gastritis - StatPearls Gastritis - StatPearls

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

Connect with NLM

National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20894

Web Policies FOIA HHS Vulnerability Disclosure

Help Accessibility Careers

statistics

Learn how UpToDate can help you.

Select the option that best describes you

  • Medical Professional
  • Resident, Fellow, or Student
  • Hospital or Institution
  • Group Practice
  • Patient or Caregiver
  • Find in topic

RELATED TOPICS

INTRODUCTION

This topic will review the etiology, classification, and diagnosis of gastritis. Specific causes of acute and chronic gastritis and gastropathy are presented in detail separately. (See "Acute hemorrhagic erosive gastropathy and reactive gastropathy" and "Acute and chronic gastritis due to Helicobacter pylori" and "Metaplastic (chronic) atrophic gastritis" and "Granulomatous gastritis" .)

DEFINITIONS

Gastropathy  —  Epithelial cell damage and regeneration with minimal or no associated inflammation is termed "gastropathy."

Gastritis  —  The term "gastritis" is used to denote inflammation associated with gastric mucosal injury.

ETIOLOGY AND CLASSIFICATION

  • Patient Care & Health Information
  • Diseases & Conditions

Upper endoscopy

  • Upper endoscopy

An upper endoscopy procedure involves inserting a long, flexible tube called an endoscope down your throat and into your esophagus. A tiny camera on the end of the endoscope allows views of your esophagus, stomach and the beginning of your small intestine, called the duodenum.

Your healthcare professional is likely to suspect gastritis after talking to you about your medical history and performing an exam. However, you also may have one or more of the following tests to find the exact cause.

Tests for H. pylori. Your healthcare professional may recommend tests such as a stool test or breath test to determine whether you have H. pylori. Which type of test you have depends on your situation.

For the breath test, you drink a small glass of clear, tasteless liquid that contains radioactive carbon. H. pylori germs break down the test liquid in your stomach. Later, you blow into a bag, which is then sealed. If you're infected with H. pylori, your breath sample will contain the radioactive carbon.

Passing a thin, flexible scope down the throat, called an endoscopy. Endoscopy is a procedure to examine the digestive system with a long, thin tube with a tiny camera, called an endoscope. The endoscope passes down the throat, into the esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Using the endoscope, your healthcare professional looks for signs of inflammation. Depending on your age and medical history, your healthcare professional may recommend this as a first test instead of testing for H. pylori.

If a suspicious area is found, your healthcare professional may remove small tissue samples, called a biopsy, to test in a lab. A biopsy also can identify the presence of H. pylori in your stomach lining.

  • X-ray of your upper digestive system. X-rays can create images of your esophagus, stomach and small intestine to look for anything unusual. You may have to swallow a white, metallic liquid that contains barium. The liquid coats your digestive tract and makes an ulcer more visible. This procedure is called a barium swallow.

Video: Endoscopy

An endoscopy is a procedure used to visually examine your upper digestive system. During an endoscopy your doctor gently inserts a long, flexible tube, or endoscope, into your mouth, down your throat and into your esophagus. A fiber-optic endoscope has a light and tiny camera at the end.

Your doctor can use this device to view your esophagus, stomach and the beginning of your small intestine. The images are viewed on a video monitor in the exam room.

If your doctor sees anything unusual, such as polyps or cancer, he or she passes special surgical tools through the endoscope to remove tissue or collect a sample to examine it more closely.

More Information

  • Needle biopsy

Treatment of gastritis depends on the specific cause. Acute gastritis caused by NSAIDs or alcohol may be relieved by stopping use of those substances.

Medicines used to treat gastritis include:

  • Antibiotics to kill H. pylori. For H. pylori in your digestive tract, your healthcare professional may recommend a combination of antibiotics to kill the germs. Be sure to take the full antibiotic prescription, usually for 7 to 14 days. You also may take a medicine to block acid production. Once treated, your healthcare professional will retest you for H. pylori to be sure it has been destroyed.

Medicines that block acid production and promote healing. Medicines called proton pump inhibitors help reduce acid. They do this by blocking the action of the parts of cells that produce acid. You may get a prescription for proton pump inhibitors, or you can buy them without a prescription.

Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, particularly at high doses, may increase your risk of hip, wrist and spine fractures. Ask your healthcare professional whether a calcium supplement may reduce this risk.

  • Medicines to reduce acid production. Acid blockers, also called histamine blockers, reduce the amount of acid released into your digestive tract. Reducing acid relieves gastritis pain and encourages healing. You may get a prescription for an acid blocker, or you can buy one without a prescription.
  • Medicines that neutralize stomach acid. Your healthcare professional may include an antacid in your treatment. Antacids neutralize existing stomach acid and can provide rapid pain relief. These help with immediate symptom relief but are generally not used as a primary treatment. Side effects of antacids can include constipation or diarrhea, depending on the main ingredients. Proton pump inhibitors and acid blockers are more effective and have fewer side effects.

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

Error Email field is required

Error Include a valid email address

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Thank you for subscribing!

You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

Sorry something went wrong with your subscription

Please, try again in a couple of minutes

Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.

Lifestyle and home remedies

You may find some relief from symptoms if you:

  • Don' t drink alcohol. Alcohol can irritate the mucous lining of your stomach.
  • Consider switching pain relievers. If you use pain relievers that increase your risk of gastritis, ask your healthcare professional whether acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may be an option for you. This medicine is less likely to stir up your stomach problem.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

If your healthcare professional thinks that you might have gastritis, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in digestive disorders, called a gastroenterologist.

Because appointments can be brief, it's a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
  • Write down symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may not seem related to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medicines, vitamins or supplements you're taking and the doses.
  • Take a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Write down questions to ask your healthcare team.

Your time with your healthcare team is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For gastritis, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
  • Should I be tested for H. pylori, or do I need an endoscopy?
  • Could any of my medicines be causing my condition?
  • What are other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
  • What tests do I need?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What are alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • Are there restrictions that I need to follow?
  • Should I see a specialist?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can take? What websites do you recommend?
  • What will determine whether I should schedule a follow-up visit?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer questions, such as:

  • What are your symptoms?
  • How severe are your symptoms? Would you describe your stomach pain as mildly uncomfortable or burning?
  • Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • Does anything, such as eating certain foods, seem to worsen your symptoms?
  • Does anything, such as eating certain foods or taking antacids, seem to improve your symptoms?
  • Do you experience any nausea or vomiting?
  • Have you recently lost weight?
  • How often do you take pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen sodium?
  • How often do you drink alcohol, and how much do you drink?
  • How would you rate your stress level?
  • Have you noticed any black stools or blood in your stool?
  • Have you ever had an ulcer?

What you can do in the meantime

Before your appointment, avoid drinking alcohol and eating foods that seem to irritate your stomach. These foods may include those that are spicy, acidic, fried or fatty. But talk to your healthcare professional before stopping any prescription medicines you're taking.

  • Feldman M, et al., eds. Gastritis and gastropathy. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 3, 2021.
  • Ferri FF. Gastritis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2022. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 3, 2021.
  • Gastritis and gastropathy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gastritis-gastropathy. Accessed Dec. 3, 2021.
  • Overview of gastritis. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/gastritis-and-peptic-ulcer-disease/overview-of-gastritis#. Accessed Dec. 3, 2021.
  • Kellerman RD, et al. Gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. In: Conn's Current Therapy 2021. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 3, 2021.
  • FDA drug safety communication: Possible increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist and spine with the use of proton pump inhibitors. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/fda-drug-safety-communication-possible-increased-risk-fractures-hip-wrist-and-spine-use-proton-pump. Accessed Dec. 14, 2021.
  • Picco MF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Jan. 9, 2022.

Associated Procedures

Products & services.

  • A Book: Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health
  • Symptoms & causes
  • Diagnosis & treatment
  • Doctors & departments

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

  • Opportunities

Mayo Clinic Press

Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press .

  • Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Incontinence
  • The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press The Essential Diabetes Book
  • Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance
  • FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment
  • Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book

Your gift holds great power – donate today!

Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that's changing medicine.

gastritis presentation

Overview of Gastritis

Gastritis is inflammation of the gastric mucosa caused by any of several conditions, including infection ( Helicobacter pylori ), drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol), stress, and autoimmune phenomena (atrophic gastritis). Many cases are asymptomatic, but dyspepsia and gastrointestinal bleeding sometimes occur. Diagnosis is by endoscopy. Treatment is directed at the cause but often includes acid suppression and, for H. pylori infection, antibiotics.

Gastritis can be classified in several ways:

By severity of mucosal injury, as erosive gastritis or nonerosive gastritis

By the site of involvement (ie, cardia, body, antrum)

Histologically as acute or chronic (based on the inflammatory cell type)

No classification scheme matches perfectly with the pathophysiology; a large degree of overlap exists. Some forms of gastritis involve acid peptic disease and H. pylori disease (see also Overview of Acid Secretion ). Additionally, the term is often loosely applied to nonspecific (and often undiagnosed) abdominal discomfort and gastroenteritis .

Acute gastritis is characterized by polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration of the mucosa of the antrum and body.

Acute Gastritis

Chronic gastritis implies some degree of atrophy (with loss of function of the mucosa) or metaplasia. It predominantly involves the antrum (with subsequent loss of G cells and decreased gastrin secretion) or the corpus (with loss of oxyntic glands, leading to reduced acid, pepsin, and intrinsic factor).

Chronic Gastritis

  • Cookie Preferences

This icon serves as a link to download the eSSENTIAL Accessibility assistive technology app for individuals with physical disabilities. It is featured as part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Copyright © 2024 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Radiopaedia.org

Acute gastritis

  • Report problem with article
  • View revision history

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

At the time the article was created Charlie Chia-Tsong Hsu had no recorded disclosures.

At the time the article was last revised Rania Adel Anan had no recorded disclosures.

Acute gastritis is a broad term that encompasses a myriad of causes of gastric mucosal inflammation.

On this page:

Epidemiology , clinical presentation, radiographic features .

  • Cases and figures
  • Imaging differential diagnosis

It depends on the etiology (see below).

  • asymptomatic
  • epigastric pain/tenderness
  • nausea and vomiting
  • loss of appetite
  • infection:  H. pylori  (most common)
  • systemic illness: trauma and burns
  • pharmacological/medication: NSAIDs
  • caustic ingestion
  • acid/alkali ingestion
  • cytomegalovirus
  • Candida albicans
  • histoplasmosis
  • cryptosporidiosis
  • toxoplasmosis
  • eosinophilic gastritis

CT findings can suggest gastritis and detect complications such as gastric perforation, however, often gastritis and tumors cannot be easily differentiated on CT. Moreover, the causes of gastritis cannot be determined on CT. Both circumstances require clinical/lab correlation, probable endoscopy examination, and tissue biopsy 1,2 .

CT findings suggestive of gastritis include:

  • gastric wall edema: measuring the HU may be useful to differentiate edema from low attenuation neoplastic lesion
  • halo sign: mucosal enhancement surrounded by submucosal and gastric wall edema
  • 1. Horton KM, Fishman EK. Current role of CT in imaging of the stomach. Radiographics. 23 (1): 75-87. Radiographics (citation) - Pubmed citation
  • 2. Sohn J, Levine MS, Furth EE et-al. Helicobacter pylori gastritis: radiographic findings. Radiology. 1995;195 (3): 763-7. Radiology (citation) - Pubmed citation
  • 3. Brant WE, Helms CA. Fundamentals of Diagnostic Radiology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2007) ISBN:0781761352. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon

Incoming Links

  • Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
  • Billroth I reconstruction
  • Gastric metastases
  • Upper GI study
  • Severe gastritis and chronic calcific pancreatitis

Promoted articles (advertising)

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

By Section:

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Classifications
  • Imaging Technology
  • Interventional Radiology
  • Radiography
  • Central Nervous System
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Gynaecology
  • Haematology
  • Head & Neck
  • Hepatobiliary
  • Interventional
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Paediatrics
  • Not Applicable

Radiopaedia.org

  • Feature Sponsor
  • Expert advisers

gastritis presentation

  • Physician Physician Board Reviews Physician Associate Board Reviews CME Lifetime CME Free CME
  • Student USMLE Step 1 USMLE Step 2 USMLE Step 3 COMLEX Level 1 COMLEX Level 2 COMLEX Level 3 96 Medical School Exams Student Resource Center NCLEX - RN NCLEX - LPN/LVN/PN 24 Nursing Exams
  • Nurse Practitioner APRN/NP Board Reviews CNS Certification Reviews CE - Nurse Practitioner FREE CE
  • Nurse RN Certification Reviews CE - Nurse FREE CE
  • Pharmacist Pharmacy Board Exam Prep CE - Pharmacist
  • Allied Allied Health Exam Prep Dentist Exams CE - Social Worker CE - Dentist
  • Point of Care
  • Free CME/CE

Introduction

Gastritis refers to the inflammation of the gastric mucosa and is often used to describe the abnormal appearance of abnormal gastric mucosa on endoscopy or radiology. Gastritis encompasses infectious or immunological inflammation of the gastric mucosa and the host's response. [1]  Histopathological evidence of inflammation in the stomach lining is essential to diagnose this condition. Gastropathy is characterized as a gastric mucosal disorder without inflammation, often featuring epithelial injury and subsequent regeneration. [1]  Gastritis and gastropathy are not mutually exclusive conditions and might sometimes coexist. In clinical practice, gastritis may be accompanied by signs of mucosal injury, whereas gastropathy may show some evidence of an inflammatory reaction in the gastric mucosa.

Gastritis can be classified based on the acuity of the condition (acute versus chronic), the histological features of the inflammation, or its etiology. Although there is no universally accepted categorization and classification of gastritis, [1] it is crucial to understand the histological characteristics and etiological factors associated with the different types of gastritis to comprehend their presentation and classification. Appropriate histological evaluation is also essential in devising management plans for this disease. This review discusses the histological and morphological presentations of gastritis, assesses their prognostic significance, and outlines the guideline-recommended management approaches for these conditions. The primary objective of this topic is to improve patient outcomes by enhancing the competence of healthcare providers.

Register For Free And Read The Full Article

Learn more about a subscription to statpearls point-of-care.

Acute Gastritis

Acute gastritis is a temporary inflammation of the stomach lining caused by stress on the gastric mucosa, manifesting as either hemorrhagic or non-hemorrhagic symptoms. This condition can develop due to various factors, including uremia, ischemia, shock, corrosive agents, medications, radiation, trauma, severe burns, sepsis, or alkaline-bile reflux. [1]  Certain infections, such as enteroviruses, can also cause a self-limited episode of gastritis. [2] Acute gastritis may result from reduced gastric mucus secretion, mucosal barrier disruption, or decreased mucosal blood flow, depending on the underlying cause.

Chronic Gastritis

Chronic gastritis can be categorized into 2 forms—atrophic and non-atrophic. The primary cause of chronic gastritis is a Helicobacter pylori  infection, which typically starts with a non-atrophic morphology. [3]  The non-atrophic form of chronic gastritis can progress to atrophic forms without proper treatment. The most common cause of atrophic chronic gastritis is autoimmune gastritis. The etiology of this entity remains unclear. Autoimmune gastritis exhibits a chronic mononuclear inflammation often accompanied by severe atrophic gastritis, which usually affects the corpus, along with the presence of autoantibodies against parietal cells or the intrinsic factor. However, it is unclear whether autoimmune gastritis is an independent disorder or if an H pylori infection triggers an autoimmune response in susceptible individuals. 

Reactive Gastritis

Reactive gastritis or gastropathy shares numerous causative factors with acute gastritis. Reactive gastritis may be caused by specific medications, alcohol consumption, radiation exposure, and duodenal (bile) reflux. [4] These causative agents lead to histological mucosal lesions characterized by low-grade inflammation of the gastric mucosa in these gastropathies. Although these entities are usually asymptomatic, they are revealed through endoscopy, often showing multiple erosions or ulcers without signs of atrophic changes. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat various malignancies has contributed to the incidence of reactive gastritis, although it remains considerably rare. [4]

The Sydney System of Classification for Gastritis

The Histological Division of the Sydney System was introduced in 1990 and has since become the most widely cited classification system for the morphological features of gastritis in endoscopic biopsies. [5] This system conveys information about the type, severity, and extent of gastric pathology. The primary aspect of conveying through the Sydney System of Classification is the topography of gastritis, which can be restricted to the antrum or corpus or involve the entire stomach (pan gastritis). If the etiology of the disease is known, it is added as a prefix to denote the topography. For instance, it would be labeled as "autoimmune corpus gastritis" if the disease is autoimmune in origin. [5]  The Sydney System of Classification further delineates 5 graded morphological variables that may be added as a suffix to the core topography. These variables include the type or chronicity of inflammation, gastritis activity, intestinal metaplasia, the extent of atrophy, and the presence or absence of  H pylori  organisms. [5]  The morphological features are graded as absent, mild, moderate, or severe. The Sydney System of Classification for Gastritis recommends at least 2 random biopsies from both the antrum and corpus, along with an additional biopsy from the incisura angularis. [1]  

Although the Sydney System of Classification provides a standardized and concise means of documenting the extent and severity of gastritis, it does not offer a method for predicting or forecasting future morphological changes. [5]

Classification of Gastritis Based on Etiological Factors

An alternative approach to classifying gastritis considers both the etiology of the inflammation and its chronicity. This approach categorizes gastritis into 3 main subtypes—acute, chronic, and "special." [4]  The particular subtypes include gastropathy and gastritis of unknown etiologies. 

Infectious gastritis is most commonly attributed to the widespread prevalence of H pylori infection worldwide. [3]  Other types of infectious gastritis include phlegmonous gastritis (caused by pyogenic bacteria), mycobacterial gastritis (caused by  Mycobacterium tuberculosis ), syphilitic gastritis, viral gastritis (caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes simplex virus (HSV)), parasitic gastritis (caused by Anisakis , Cryptosporidium , Ascaris lumbricoides , Giardia , Toxoplasma , and Schistosoma ), and fungal gastritis (caused by Candida , Aspergillus , Mucor , Coccidioides , Histoplasma , Cryptococcus neoformans , Pneumocystis carinii,  and Torulopsis glabrata ). [4]

Granulomatous gastritis is a "special" gastritis observed in patients with Crohn disease and sarcoidosis. Lymphocytic gastritis, collagenous gastritis, and eosinophilic gastritis are additional "special" subtypes of gastritis with unclear etiologies. [4] Lymphocytic and collagenous gastritis have been associated with celiac disease, whereas eosinophilic gastritis has a strong connection to atopic conditions and food allergens. [4]

According to the Kyoto Consensus Conference, a comprehensive classification of gastritis based on etiological factors was outlined as: [6]

  • Autoimmune gastritis
  • H pylori– induced gastritis
  • Bacterial gastritis other than H pylori
  • H heilmannii gastritis
  • Enterococcus gastritis
  • Mycobacteria gastritis
  • Secondary syphilitic gastritis
  • Gastric phlegmon
  • Enteroviral gastritis
  • CMV gastritis
  • Gastritis due to mucormycosis
  • Gastric candidiasis
  • Gastric histoplasmosis
  • Cryptosporidium gastritis
  • Gastric Strongyloides stercorale
  • Gastric anisakiasis
  • Drug-induced gastritis
  • Alcoholic gastritis
  • Radiation gastritis
  • Chemical gastritis
  • Gastritis due to duodenal reflux
  • Lymphocytic gastritis
  • Ménétrier disease
  • Allergic gastritis
  • Eosinophilic gastritis
  • Gastritis due to sarcoidosis
  • Gastritis due to vasculitis
  • Gastritis due to Crohn disease

Epidemiology

Determining the incidence of acute gastritis can be challenging due to the common causes of this condition, such as enterovirus infections, which typically result in mild and self-limited episodes that often go unreported. [2] Other factors leading to acute gastritis, such as sepsis, ischemia, and caustic injury, are relatively rare compared to chronic H pylori– associated gastritis and chronic atrophic (autoimmune) gastritis. Recent data shows chronic atrophic gastritis is estimated to affect approximately 25% of the global general population. Furthermore, the risk of developing chronic atrophic gastritis is about 2.4 times higher in individuals infected with H pylori. [7]

In Western populations, evidence indicates a declining incidence of infectious gastritis caused by H pylori and an increasing prevalence of autoimmune gastritis. [8] Autoimmune gastritis is more prevalent in women and older individuals, with estimated rates ranging from 2% to 5%. However, the available data may have limited reliability. [8] [9]

Chronic H pylori– associated nonatrophic gastritis continues to be prevalent in developing countries. [3]  In Western populations, the prevalence of H pylori infection in children is approximately 10%, whereas it is significantly higher, approximately 50%, in developing countries. [10] [11] The prevalence of H pylori infection in developing countries varies significantly based on geographical region and socioeconomic conditions. For instance, it is estimated to be approximately 69% in Africa, 78% in South America, and 51% in Asia. [12]  

Socioeconomic and environmental factors are crucial in the global transmission of  H pylori infections. These factors encompass family hygiene practices, household overcrowding, and dietary habits. The pediatric origin of H pylori infection is currently considered the primary determinant of H pylori– associated gastritis within a community. [3]

The estimated prevalence of atrophic gastritis in the United States can be as high as 15%. [13]  Current estimates suggest that this prevalence is likely higher in populations with a higher baseline prevalence of H pylori  infection, such as non-White racial and ethnic minorities and first-generation immigrants from countries with a high prevalence of H pylori infections.

Atrophic gastritis not associated with H pylori infection is relatively uncommon, with an estimated prevalence of 0.5% to 2%, which is likely an overestimation. [13] The coexistence of other autoimmune diseases increases the prevalence of this condition, with up to one-third of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease having coexistent autoimmune gastritis. In contrast to  H pylori– associated atrophic gastritis, purely autoimmune gastritis does not exhibit racial or ethnic variations. [13]

Pathophysiology

H   pylori– Associated Gastritis

H pylori is a flagellated gram-negative bacterium that can be transmitted through environmental factors or the fecal-oral or oral-oral routes. [1] The pathophysiology of H pylori– induced gastritis involves a complex interaction between bacterial virulence factors and the host's immune responses. This interplay disrupts the gastric mucosal barrier and leads to chronic inflammation.  H pylori possesses various virulence factors that facilitate cell adhesion, including BabA/B, sabA, and OipA, cause cell damage, disrupt tight junctions, including Ure A/B, and evade the host immune response, including LPS. Notably, the cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) is a potent inducer of inflammation and is associated with the development of gastric cancer. [14]

The survival and colonization of H pylori  in the stomach depend on the urease produced by the bacterium. Urease catalyzes urea hydrolysis, releasing ammonia and forming a protective layer around the bacterium. [15] The ammonia also helps neutralize the acidic microenvironment of the stomach, allowing the bacterium to thrive in the stomach's low pH conditions. [16]  Subsequently, the flagellum and other mucolytic enzymes assist the organism to penetrate the mucus layer and reach the gastric epithelium, ultimately attaching itself to the epithelial cells. [17]

The attachment of H pylori to the epithelial cells triggers an inflammatory response, which is the distinguishing characteristic of gastritis. Host macrophages and activated T-cells take up various antigenic substrates from the organism. [18]  The recruited T-cells are paradoxically inhibited by the expression of B7-H1 (programmed death-1 ligand 1) on gastric epithelial cells. Studies have shown that  H pylori induces B7-H1 expression on gastric epithelial cells, which is believed to contribute to the chronicity of the bacterial infection. [19]  Further stimulation of inflammation occurs through an  H pylori– induced increase in interleukin (IL)-8 production by the gastric epithelial cells. [20] IL-8 subsequently triggers the activation of neutrophils and the recruitment of other inflammatory cells into the mucosa. Persistent inflammation ultimately leads to the depletion of gastrin-producing (G) cells and acid-producing parietal cells in the gastric mucosa. [21]  Over time, atrophy and intestinal metaplasia develop.

Autoimmune Gastritis

Autoimmune metaplastic atrophic gastritis develops due to T-cell – mediated destruction of the oxyntic mucosa and the production of autoantibodies targeting parietal cells and the intrinsic factor. A proposed mechanism for this disease in patients with H pylori -induced atrophic gastritis outlines a crossover of antigenic activity directed against the bacterium and toward host antigens in the region, including parietal cells and the intrinsic factor. [8]  In primary autoimmune atrophic gastritis, the immune response is directed against these antigens irrespective of an H pylori infection. However, the molecular factors driving the autoimmune response and initiating the pathogenesis of the condition remain unidentified. [8]  Over time, the immune-mediated destruction of the oxyntic mucosa leads to the presence of mucous cells and metaplastic glands, including both intestinal and pseudo-pyloric types, within the gastric mucosa. [8]

Histopathology

Histologically, gastritis is confirmed by at least grade 2 neutrophils or mononuclear cells in at least 1 gastric biopsy site or grade 1 neutrophils or mononuclear cells in at least 2 places. [22] The Sydney System of Classification recommends obtaining histological specimens from 5 distinct gastric locations, including the antrum (greater and lesser curvature), incisura, and corpus (greater and lesser curvature). Specimens should be individually placed into separate vials and grouped based on the location of the lesion. This approach enhances the chances of identifying H pylori and reduces the likelihood of missing the diagnosis.

Normal Histology of the Gastric Mucosa

The gastric mucosa is divided into 2 main zones—the oxyntic region, comprising the fundus and corpus, and the mucous-secreting region, consisting of the antrum and incisura angularis. Within the oxyntic mucosa, specialized glands containing parietal (oxyntic) cells, chief (zymogenic) cells, and enterochromaffin cells can be observed. [4] The parietal cells are characterized by their large size, high acidophilia, and round or pyramidal shape, whereas the chief cells are smaller and exhibit basophilia. The antral mucosa is characterized by gastric pits, or foveolae, abundant in mucous-producing cells. These foveolar cells are columnar and possess a pale eosinophilic cytoplasm. [4] The cells located deep within the gastric pits are called mucous neck cells, and they mature as they move up the gland to replace the surface mucous cells.

The presence of intermediate mucosa aids in identifying the transitional boundaries between the antrum and body, body and cardia, and antrum and duodenum. The transitional zones exhibit a gradual merging of the various mucosal types. The most informative histological indicator of the transition from the body to the antrum is the absence of chief cells and a shift in the shape of the glands from simple tubular glands to branched glands. [4] The oxyntic mucosa exhibits short gastric foveolae with long, densely packed glands. In contrast, roughly 50% of the mucosal thickness in the antral region comprises large mucus-producing glands lined by foveolar cells. In the cardia, gastric foveoli are abundant, and the presence of chief and parietal cells is infrequent. The transitional zone between the body and cardia is where the chief and parietal cells become abundant. [4]  

Histological Features of Gastritis

H pylori  is a spiral-shaped bacterium observed in gastric biopsy specimens and may be detected through hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. [4] The sensitivity and specificity of the H&E stain for detecting the bacterium are approximately 69% to 93% and 87% to 90%, respectively. The specificity of H&E stain increases from 90% to 100% when specialized staining methods, including modified Giemsa, Warthin-Starry silver, Genta, and immunohistochemical (IHC), are used. [23]  

The Giemsa stain is easy to use and cost-effective, rendering it the preferred method in many laboratories. The Genta stain effectively visualizes the inflammatory cells and H pylori by combining silver, H&E, and Alcian blue stains. [23]  The advantage of IHC stain is its ability to detect the organism in patients who have undergone partial treatment for H pylori gastritis, as the organism may assume atypical forms (such as coccoid) in such cases. [23]  In nearly all cases,  H pylori– associated gastritis typically presents with diffuse or nodular lymphocytic inflammation. [4]

In acute H pylori gastritis, there is neutrophilic infiltration of the mucous neck region, along with signs of mucin loss and desquamation of surface foveolar cells. Over time, lymphoid follicles develop, which are not commonly found in otherwise normal gastric mucosa. [24]  

Due to persistent low-grade inflammation, reactive gastritis or gastropathies are characterized by foveolar hyperplasia and vascular ectasia, edema, and muscularis mucosae hyperplasia. [4]

The early phase of autoimmune atrophic gastritis reveals nonspecific changes characterized by infiltrating lymphocytes and plasma cells into the oxyntic mucosa. Patchy destruction of oxyntic glands can be seen, and the parietal cells exhibit pseudo-hypertrophic changes. As the disease progresses, diffuse lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the lamina propria and significant atrophy of oxyntic glands will be seen. Foveolar hyperplasia with an increase in the thickness of the foveolar component is also evident. Marked pseudopyloric metaplasia is often seen with an increasing abundance of intestinal metaplasia. These distinctive changes in the oxyntic mucosa, coupled with the absence of inflammatory and atrophic changes in the antral mucosa, are pathognomonic for autoimmune gastritis. The lack of oxyntic glands, a marked presence of foveolar hyperplasia, and the development of hyperplastic and inflammatory polyps characterize the end stage of autoimmune gastritis. Metaplastic changes, including pseudopyloric, pancreatic, and intestinal metaplasia, become evident with a significant reduction in inflammatory cells. [4]

Pseudopyloric metaplasia, also known as spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM), is characterized by the replacement of parietal and chief cells by mucus-secreting cells of the antral mucosa. [25] The precursors for these cells are the chief cells of the oxyntic glands. [26]  Pseudopyloric metaplasia consists of coiled glands that are less abundant and contain considerably less mucin than normal antral glands. Another distinctive feature is the absence of endocrine cells, particularly gastrin-secreting G cells, which are typically abundant in normal antral mucosa. [27]

Intestinal metaplasia is characterized by the substitution of gastric mucosa, either oxyntic or antral, with intestinal epithelium. The presence of goblet cells is indicative of intestinal metaplasia. [28] Intestinal metaplasia can be either complete, displaying fully formed small intestinal epithelium, or incomplete, showing features of colonic epithelium without well-defined brush border cells. Incomplete intestinal metaplasia characterized by goblet cells resembling colonic epithelium and containing sulfomucins is called type III intestinal metaplasia. This particular metaplasia has been associated with an elevated risk of gastric cancer. [29]  Notably, this is not an obligatory precancerous lesion that raises questions about the usefulness of subcategorizing intestinal metaplasia in this manner. [30]

Lymphocytic gastritis is characterized by the presence of a minimum of 25 intraepithelial lymphocytes per 100 gastric epithelial cells. [4] The predominant phenotype consists of CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Although the etiology of this condition is unclear, it has been linked to H pylori infection and celiac disease. [4] In eosinophilic gastritis, the diagnosis is confirmed by the presence of an average density of over 127 eosinophils per square millimeter or more than 30 eosinophils per high-power field (HPF) in at least 5 separate HPFs, with no known associated causes of eosinophilia. It is essential to rule out the presence of H pylori infection, Crohn disease, parasitic infections, and other hematological or lymphoid disorders to establish the diagnosis. [4] Collagenous gastritis is characterized by subepithelial collagen bands, typically thicker than 10 μm, along with inflammatory mononuclear cells in the lamina propria. [4]

Emphysematous gastritis is characterized by the presence of air in the gastric wall, usually caused by a bacterial infection of the gastric wall. [31]  Although this condition is rare, it is associated with a high mortality rate, with some reports indicating a rate of up to 60%.

History and Physical

As gastritis is often difficult to diagnose based on clinical symptoms alone, a histologic or endoscopic examination is necessary, which may not correlate with symptom severity. Acute gastritis may manifest with a sudden onset of epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting (dyspepsia), which typically resolves independently. Although chronic gastritis is often used synonymously with dyspeptic symptoms, the presence of symptoms poorly correlates with the actual histological or endoscopic diagnosis of gastritis. [6]  

H pylori– associated chronic gastritis may remain asymptomatic and gradually progress to severe complications such as gastric cancer. However, the rate of progression is highly unpredictable. [6]  Notably, not every patient with chronic dyspepsia is infected with H pylori . An initial or acute infection with H pylori may induce acute dyspepsia in some patients, which typically resolves independently. Although persistent colonization invariably leads to chronic gastritis, the majority of the individuals experience only transient dyspeptic symptoms. [6]  Therefore, according to the current consensus, patients are considered to have  H pylori– induced dyspepsia if their symptoms improve after successful eradication therapy. However, successful eradication therapy does not immediately improve symptoms and may take up to 6 months to show improvement. [6]

In contrast, functional dyspepsia is characterized by the presence of persistent dyspeptic symptoms, such as postprandial fullness, early satiation, epigastric pain, or burning sensation, in the absence of structural abnormalities that can account for these symptoms, as confirmed by upper endoscopy. [6] As per current consensus guidelines, individuals who persistently experience chronic dyspeptic symptoms, even after successful H pylori eradication therapy, should be diagnosed with functional dyspepsia. [6]

Similar to acute or H pylori– induced gastritis, autoimmune gastritis is often asymptomatic, and patients typically seek medical attention incidentally when diagnosed with megaloblastic, pernicious, or iron-deficiency anemias. [32]  Although gastrointestinal symptoms are rare among individuals with autoimmune gastritis, most patients typically report postprandial dyspepsia when symptoms manifest. [32]  Less frequently, patients may report nonspecific epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, functional abdominal pain syndrome, and functional bloating. [32]  

Due to the high prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms worldwide, it is essential to interpret them cautiously. Certain studies suggest that dyspeptic symptoms, such as early satiety and postprandial fullness, may correlate with autoimmune gastritis, particularly in younger patients without anemia or a smoking history or who are not currently smoking. [32]

Autoimmune gastritis often occurs concomitantly with other autoimmune disorders, primarily thyroid diseases. These associated autoimmune conditions may include Hashimoto thyroiditis, Addison disease, chronic spontaneous urticaria, myasthenia gravis, type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, and perioral cutaneous autoimmune disorders, especially erosive oral lichen planus. [33] The association between chronic atrophic autoimmune gastritis and autoimmune thyroid disease led to the coining of the term "thyrogastric syndrome" in the early 1960s to describe this correlation.

The diagnosis of gastritis primarily relies on histopathological examination of gastric biopsies. Although medical history and laboratory tests can provide valuable insights, endoscopy, and biopsy are the gold standards for diagnosing gastritis, as they help identify its distribution, severity, and underlying cause. [34]  

Evaluation of Dyspepsia and H pylori Testing

The evaluation of gastritis should follow a stepwise process to ensure the correct cause is identified while minimizing unnecessary invasive testing. In patients suspected of having functional dyspepsia, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is not required to make the diagnosis. [35]  However, an evaluation for the presence of H pylori infection is indicated.

According to current guidelines on the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia, patients with new-onset symptoms at an advanced age, weight loss, evidence of bleeding, dysphagia, the presence of an abdominal mass, fever, persistent vomiting, or a family history of esophageal or gastric cancer should be regarded as having alarm signs. These individuals warrant further investigation and testing for the presence of an H pylori infection. [35]  In most cases, this testing involves an upper gastrointestinal endoscopic evaluation and a comprehensive histological examination of biopsy samples collected during the endoscopy. However, it is not recommended to perform endoscopic evaluation to rule out gastric malignancy in patients younger than 60, presenting with dyspepsia but without a family history of gastric cancer. [36]

Limited clinical utility exists in using gastrointestinal function tests to differentiate patients with organic causes of functional dyspepsia from those with true functional dyspepsia. Consequently, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) guidelines and the Asian consensus for functional dyspepsia do not recommend the routine use of functional gastrointestinal testing in patients experiencing these symptoms. [35]  

Investigating the presence of H pylori is recommended and warrants thorough evaluation. The urea breath test and the H pylori stool antigen test are suggested for this assessment. [37] According to a recent Cochrane review, the authors concluded that in patients without a prior history of gastrectomy or current antibiotic or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, urea breath testing was found to be more diagnostically accurate than other noninvasive measures such as serology or stool antigen detection. [37] As per most consensus statements, a single positive noninvasive test, such as the urea breath or stool antigen test, can initiate eradication treatment in patients with dyspepsia, even without any alarm symptoms. [37]  

In addition, noninvasive testing can also be used to confirm the effectiveness of eradication treatment in patients who do not necessitate endoscopy for other indications. In such cases, noninvasive testing to detect H pylori after eradication therapy should be performed 4 to 6 weeks after the completion of antibiotics or PPI therapy. [37]  

In patients aged 60 or older with dyspepsia, it is recommended to undergo endoscopy and histological evaluation for gastritis assessment and classification. [37]  

Atrophic Gastritis Diagnosis

The diagnosis of autoimmune gastritis is based on laboratory and histological examinations, which typically involve the following criteria: [38] [39]

  • Evidence of atrophic gastritis affecting the gastric corpus (body) and fundus.
  • The presence of autoantibodies against the intrinsic factor and parietal cells.
  • Serum pepsinogen I levels.
  • The ratio of pepsinogen I to pepsinogen II.

Pernicious anemia is a type of macrocytic anemia often associated with atrophic gastritis and is characterized by the presence of antibodies against parietal cells or intrinsic factors. Additional tests that may be relevant for diagnosing autoimmune gastritis include gastrin-17 levels, anti- H pylori antibodies, cytokines such as IL-8, and ghrelin, a growth hormone-releasing peptide primarily produced by the gastric fundus mucosa. [40]  

Recognizing pernicious anemia as a late manifestation of autoimmune gastritis is crucial. Although anti-parietal cell antibodies represent the most sensitive serum biomarker for autoimmune atrophic gastritis, their specificity is compromised, as they may also be elevated in individuals with an H pylori infection and other autoimmune conditions. In contrast, anti-intrinsic factor antibodies have low sensitivity but high specificity for this disorder. These serologic markers can often predate the clinical presentation of autoimmune gastritis; therefore, patients with a new diagnosis of pernicious anemia should undergo endoscopy with topographical biopsies to assess for the presence of atrophic gastritis. [13]  

As per the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Clinical Practice Update on the diagnosis and management of atrophic gastritis in 2021, a histopathological assessment is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis. [13]  The presence of intestinal metaplasia on gastric histology is pathognomonic for atrophic gastritis.

From an endoscopic perspective, atrophic gastritis manifests as pale gastric mucosa, noticeable mucosal thinning indicated by enhanced vasculature visibility, and the loss of gastric folds. [13]  The use of high-definition white-light endoscopy (HD-WLE) and narrow-band imaging (NBI) demonstrates a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 97% for detecting intestinal metaplasia, even without magnifying endoscopy. [13]  On HD-WLE, metaplastic areas appear slightly nodular with tubulovillous mucosal patterns. Fine, blue-white crests on the epithelial surface are diagnostic for intestinal metaplasia during endoscopy, with sensitivity and specificity approaching 90%. [13] Microscopic lipid accumulation within the mucosa of gastric tumors and regions with intestinal metaplasia presents as white opaque fields with a diagnostic specificity nearing 100%. Notably, the sensitivity of this endoscopic finding is relatively limited. [13] Biopsies should be obtained from the suspected atrophic or metaplastic areas and forwarded for histopathological analysis to confirm the diagnosis and assess risk stratification.

As per AGA recommendations, adhering to the updated Sydney protocol for obtaining topographical biopsies during the evaluation of atrophic gastritis is advised. This involves taking 5 separate biopsies, each placed in appropriately labeled containers, from the following locations: [13]

  • The lesser curvature of the antrum, situated within 2 to 3 cm from the pylorus.
  • The greater curvature of the antrum, located within 2 to 3 cm from the pylorus.
  • The lesser curvature of the gastric corpus, approximately 4 cm proximal to the incisura angularis.
  • The greater curvature of the gastric corpus, positioned 8 cm from the cardia.
  • The incisura angularis.

Upon establishing the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis, testing for H pylori is recommended if atrophic gastritis is not previously tested. In the event of a positive result, eradication treatment should be administered, followed by subsequent testing to confirm the success of eradication. [13]

Additional testing, including anti-parietal cell antibodies and anti-intrinsic factor antibodies, should be considered. In addition, further serological testing to assess the presence of anemia resulting from vitamin B-12 and iron deficiencies is advisable. For individuals with advanced atrophic gastritis, it is prudent to consider scheduling surveillance endoscopies every 3 years to monitor for the potential development of gastric malignancies. [13]  

If accessible, serological testing for pepsinogens I and II can provide valuable insights into assessing patients with atrophic gastritis. In areas with a high incidence of gastric cancer, serum pepsinogen I levels below 70 μg/L and a low pepsinogen I to pepsinogen II ratio have high sensitivity and specificity for indicating severe corpus atrophy. [13]

Treatment / Management

As mentioned earlier, eradicating H pylori is recommended for all patients with evidence of gastritis on diagnostic testing. Furthermore, eradication therapy serves as the initial treatment option for patients with dyspepsia who have a documented  H pylori infection. [6] In addition,  H pylori eradication therapy is indicated in patients displaying evidence of peptic ulcer disease, functional dyspepsia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), unexplained iron-deficiency anemia, and in cases where long-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment is anticipated, particularly in patients with a history of peptic ulcer disease. [37] In patients with functional dyspepsia, eradication therapy has a limited impact on symptom relief. Nonetheless, it proves highly advantageous in mitigating the risk of peptic ulcer disease development in these individuals. [41]   (A1)

Eradication therapy for H pylori in patients with non-atrophic chronic gastritis is highly recommended, as it promotes healing and reduces the risk of gastric cancer in these patients. [42] For patients with atrophic gastritis, eradication therapy targeted at the organism may result in partial regression of the gastritis and offer some potential benefits in reducing the risk of gastric cancer. Although the eradication therapy in patients with intestinal metaplasia does not reverse the metaplastic changes, it may slow its progression to neoplasia without substantial evidence of reducing the overall risk of gastric cancer. Therefore, there is a cautious or weak recommendation for consideration in this context. [42]  

Chronic gastritis management in patients who initially test negative for H pylori lacks standardized guidelines and tends to exhibit significant variability. Empirical use of PPIs has demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating symptoms for these patients. [43] According to current guidelines, empiric PPI therapy is recommended for individuals younger than 60 with dyspepsia if they test negative for  H pylori  or experience persistent symptoms despite undergoing eradication therapy. [36] Patients who do not experience relief from these treatments may be considered for prokinetic therapy or tricyclic antidepressants. Notably, the supporting evidence for this recommendation is of low-to-moderate quality. [36] (B2)

Currently, definitive treatment does not exist for patients with atrophic gastritis. The pivotal aspect in treating patients with atrophic gastritis is the application of risk stratification systems to assess the severity of the disease and determine the risk of gastric malignancies. For this purpose, utilizing the Operative Link on Gastritis Assessment (OLGA) and Operative Link on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Assessment (OLGIM) grading systems is recommended. [6] Staging gastritis using the OLGA and OLGIM systems, with a stage III or IV classification, is associated with a significantly elevated risk of gastric cancer. This approach provides an easily translated method for assessing attributable risk. [6] These systems incorporate atrophy scores obtained through histological assessment of gastric biopsies and consider atrophy topography to assign clinical stages. [44]   (B2)

Histological Grading of Gastritis

In normal gastric mucosa, an acceptable range is typically 2 to 5 lymphocytes, plasma cells, or macrophages per HPF, or 2 to 3 of these cells located between foveolae. [4]  The degree of increase from these numbers determines the severity of gastritis, which is graded as mild (+--), moderate (++-), or marked (+++). Notably, this density measurement should be performed away from any lymphoid follicles present, as they could be related to an underlying H pylori infection. Lymphocytic gastritis occurs when more than 25 lymphocytes are observed per 100 epithelial cells within the glandular epithelium. [4]

The density of neutrophils measures the activity of gastritis. The grading of gastritis activity is followed as—Neutrophils in the lamina propria indicate mild (+--) activity, neutrophils within the epithelium denote moderate (++-) activity and neutrophils in the glandular lumen signify marked (+++) activity. [4]

The discrepancy between the expected glands for the anatomical site of the gastric mucosa and what is actually observed represents atrophy. A reduction or complete absence of glandular units leads to collagen deposition in the lamina propria. Metaplastic changes involve the replacement of normal glandular units with metaplastic and/or dysplastic units. A score of 1 is allocated when there is a 1 to 30% loss of the glandular architecture and/or its metaplastic transformation, a score of 2 is assigned for a 31 to 60% loss, and a score of 3 is designated for a loss exceeding 60%. 

The OLGA staging system categorizes gastritis into 5 stages, each associated with a progressively higher risk of cancer, determined by the atrophy score. [4]  In addition, an overall atrophy score based on topography is assigned, and these scores are then tallied to determine the corresponding OLGA stage. Although the OLGIM staging system relies solely on intestinal metaplasia for the atrophy score, which enhances its inter-observer reproducibility, it results in a notable decrease in sensitivity for identifying high-risk patients. [4]

Patients classified as OLGA/OLGIM stage III or IV face a considerable risk of developing gastric adenocarcinoma. As a result, regular surveillance endoscopy is strongly recommended for these individuals, as it can enhance the chances of detecting gastric cancer in its early stages, potentially enabling curative surgical treatment. [13]  The AGA recommends endoscopic surveillance every 3 years in these patients. Other clinical factors that should be considered when determining the frequency of surveillance include a family history of gastric cancer, residence in regions with a high incidence of gastric cancer, a history of persistent H pylori infection, smoking history, and dietary factors. [13]

Differential Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of gastritis encompasses the following conditions:

  • Functional dyspepsia
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Gastric cancer
  • Cholecystitis
  • Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
  • Pancreatitis
  • Myocardial ischemia
  • Gastric lymphoma
  • Celiac disease
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasias

The prognosis of gastritis varies based on the type, underlying cause, and individual patient characteristics. With appropriate management, many cases of gastritis can be effectively controlled, and the risk of complications can be minimized. Acute gastritis secondary to ischemia and emphysematous gastritis can have inferior outcomes if the underlying cause is not treated promptly and adequately. 

In contrast, the prognosis of atrophic gastritis, however, depends on the severity of atrophy or metaplasia. Numerous studies have reported an elevated risk of gastric malignancies in individuals with atrophic gastritis. The primary management approach for this condition is focused on staging to facilitate early detection of such complications. A study reported an annual incidence rate of 0.25% per person-year for gastric cancer and 0.68% for type I gastric carcinoids in patients with atrophic gastritis. [45]  The incidence of gastric adenocarcinoma is reported to be around 14.2 cases per 1000 person-years in individuals with autoimmune metaplastic atrophic gastritis compared to 0.073 cases in the general population. [46] The pattern, extent, and severity of atrophy are the most critical predictive factors for an elevated cancer risk in patients with atrophic gastritis. Conversely, the subtypes of gastrointestinal metaplasia offer limited prognostic value. [47]  

Studies from different regions worldwide present conflicting data on the effectiveness of H pylori treatment in reducing cancer risk due to significant geographic variation in malignancy risk. Nevertheless, the consensus remains that eradication treatment improves prognosis. A systematic review indicated a one-third reduction in cancer risk following successful H pylori eradication. [47]  The literature highlights a "point of no return" phenomenon, with studies showing a reduced incidence of gastric cancer in patients who were H pylori carriers without precancerous lesions, such as atrophic gastritis or gastrointestinal metaplasia. [47]  

Complications

H pylori– induced gastritis can lead to various conditions, including peptic ulcer disease, ITP, iron-deficiency anemia, and vitamin B12 deficiency. [48] Recent reports have also indicated a potential association with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. [49] The hypothesized mechanism underlying these associations involves molecular mimicry and the chronic state of low-grade inflammation. [48]  However, currently, there is insufficient evidence to firmly establish a causal link between gastritis and these metabolic conditions. [50]

Gastric cancer represents the most severe complication of atrophic gastritis. [47] The presence of atrophic gastritis and gastrointestinal metaplasia substantially elevates the risk of this complication compared to chronic gastritis in the absence of these lesions. The severity of atrophy also amplifies the associated risk, with a relative risk of 1.7% for gastric cancer in cases of moderate atrophic gastritis and 4.9% relative risk in cases of severe atrophic gastritis, in contrast to no elevated risk when only mild atrophic changes are present. [47]

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is associated with  H pylori– induced gastritis, with histological evidence suggesting that lymphoma originates from B-cell clones in the site where chronic gastritis was previously sampled. [51]  Recent molecular studies have shown a strong correlation between  H pylori  infection and gastric mucosa - associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. These studies demonstrate the translocation of the bacterial protein CagA into human B lymphoid cells, leading to the activation of cellular signaling pathways that inhibit apoptosis. [52]  The most compelling evidence of the association between H pylori– induced gastritis and "MALTomas" is derived from studies documenting the complete regression of early-stage gastric B-cell lymphoma after H pylori eradication therapy. [53]

Gastric neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) represent another known complication of atrophic gastritis. The prognosis of these lesions is contingent on factors such as tumor size, mitotic activity, and the extent of invasion. [13] Small NETs can often be managed with endoscopic resection and carry a low risk of metastasis. In contrast, larger tumors exceeding 2 cm have been associated with a reported metastasis rate of nearly 20%. [13]

Both autoimmune and H pylori –induced gastritis can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. [54] A retrospective analysis of premenopausal women with iron deficiency reported that 18.5% of the patients were seropositive for anti-parietal cell antibodies. [55]  The association between H pylori infection and iron-deficiency anemia is particularly evident in individuals with unexplained iron deficiency. Some expert guidelines even advocate screening and treating H pylori in patients with recurrent or treatment-resistant iron-deficiency anemia and normal upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies. [50]

ITP is another recognized complication of gastritis. Consensus guidelines for managing ITP recommend screening for H pylori infection in adult patients with ITP. [50]

Deterrence and Patient Education

Patient education plays a crucial role in managing gastritis, as it empowers individuals to take proactive measures to prevent its onset or recurrence and to manage this condition effectively. In  H pylori– induced gastritis cases, educating patients on a few critical aspects is essential, as mentioned below.

Mode of transmission: Patients should be informed about the mode of transmission of H pylori , which is typically through close person-to-person contact. They should also be educated about emphasizing the importance of practicing good hygiene to reduce the risk of infection.

Preventative measures:  Patients must be educated about various preventive measures, including avoiding contaminated food and water sources, as these actions can significantly reduce the risk of H pylori infection.

Antibiotic treatment: Patients diagnosed with an H pylori infection should complete the entire course of antibiotics their clinician prescribes. This step is crucial to ensure the complete eradication of the bacteria and minimize the risk of recurrence. [56]

For patients with autoimmune gastritis and vitamin B12 deficiency, it is crucial to provide education regarding the significance of consistent vitamin B12 supplementation. This measure helps prevent anemia and other associated complications. Patients should be informed about potential complications of gastritis, such as bleeding or peptic ulcers, and the importance of seeking immediate medical care if these complications arise. 

Furthermore, educating patients about the potential risks associated with prolonged or excessive use of medications that can trigger or worsen gastritis, such as NSAIDs and aspirin, is essential. This knowledge can help patients make informed decisions about their medication use and take steps to minimize the risk of exacerbating their gastritis.

Mass screening for H pylori,  followed by eradication therapy, has garnered recent attention. National guidelines for mass screening differ from country to country, and in regions with a low prevalence of H pylori infection, most guidelines advise against mass screening. [37] In some cases, 'screen-and-treat' strategies are recommended for communities at high risk of gastric cancer and are generally considered cost-effective in these regions. A substantial population-based screen-and-treat trial conducted in a high-incidence rural area of China demonstrated good compliance and the feasibility of this approach. However, it is noteworthy that long-term follow-up data regarding its efficacy in preventing gastric cancer are still pending. [50]

A significant concern associated with implementing these screening programs is the risk of antibiotic resistance. For instance, in a placebo-controlled trial involving healthy volunteers, the use of clarithromycin at a dosage of 500 mg twice daily for the shortest recommended duration of 7 days for H pylori eradication has been shown to increase the resistance of macrolide-resistant pharyngeal Streptococcus pneumoniae . [50] Expert guidelines strongly discourage the use of antibiotics commonly used for treating life-threatening infections, including macrolides, penicillins, and fluoroquinolones, to eradicate  H pylori in gastritis treatment. When strategizing public health campaigns to eradicate  H pylori , it is recommended to consider medications such as bismuth, tetracycline, and metronidazole. Rifabutin may also be contemplated, as short-term usage of this agent is unlikely to contribute significantly to mycobacterial resistance against it. [50]

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Gastritis is primarily diagnosed histologically and is prevalent globally, often stemming from various causes. This condition typically presents with nonspecific symptoms, and the most severe forms are usually identified by astute clinical judgment and diligent adherence to recommended guidelines for assessing asymptomatic patients with anemia, thrombocytopenia, or vague gastrointestinal symptoms. Primary care clinicians must familiarize themselves with the current guideline-recommended approach for evaluating patients with dyspepsia and become proficient in assessing unexplained iron-deficiency anemia. This approach of enhancing the competence of healthcare providers enables the early identification of patients with gastritis, potentially recognizing those with premalignant atrophy before it advances to dysplasia. 

Treatment approaches can significantly differ depending on the subtype and stage of gastritis, particularly when atrophic changes are evident. Close coordination and effective communication between the endoscopist and the pathologist are pivotal in arriving at an accurate diagnosis and assigning the appropriate stage to a patient's gastritis. 

The clinical nurse assumes a central role in patient education about their disease process and engaging them in their care. Educating patients about the pathogenesis of H pylori– associated gastritis and the risk of developing cancer is crucial. This promotes patient involvement in treatment programs, encourages adherence to antibiotic therapy, and ensures follow-up testing to confirm eradication.

The clinical pharmacist is critical in ensuring patient adherence to medication during H pylori eradication therapy and adjusting medication regimens to minimize adverse outcomes. Pharmacists specializing in infectious diseases are integral to the success of eradication therapy, as they assist clinicians in designing antibiotic regimens that align with local resistance patterns. 

Public health specialists also have a significant role in preventing gastritis-associated malignancies. They are responsible for developing suitable screen-and-treat programs, particularly in high-prevalence regions. 

A collaborative effort involving an interprofessional healthcare team of clinicians, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and public health experts, can substantially reduce the incidence of gastritis and enhance clinical outcomes by lowering the risk of gastric malignancies linked to the disease.

<p>Histopathology of Chronic Gastritis.&nbsp;This slide shows gastric mucosal atrophy with high lymphocytic infiltrate.</p>

Histopathology of Chronic Gastritis. This slide shows gastric mucosal atrophy with high lymphocytic infiltrate.

Contributed by Ayoola Awosika, MD, MS

<p><em>H. pylori</em>&nbsp;Gastritis. A spiral-shaped bacterium seen on H&amp;E staining.</p>

H. pylori  Gastritis. A spiral-shaped bacterium seen on H&E staining.

Kayaçetin S, Güreşçi S. What is gastritis? What is gastropathy? How is it classified? The Turkish journal of gastroenterology : the official journal of Turkish Society of Gastroenterology. 2014 Jun:25(3):233-47. doi: 10.5152/tjg.2014.7906. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 25141310]

Chia JK, Chia AY. Acute gastritis associated with enterovirus infection. Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine. 2010 Jan:134(1):16-7     [PubMed PMID: 20073596]

Sipponen P, Maaroos HI. Chronic gastritis. Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. 2015 Jun:50(6):657-67. doi: 10.3109/00365521.2015.1019918. Epub 2015 Apr 22     [PubMed PMID: 25901896]

Pennelli G, Grillo F, Galuppini F, Ingravallo G, Pilozzi E, Rugge M, Fiocca R, Fassan M, Mastracci L. Gastritis: update on etiological features and histological practical approach. Pathologica. 2020 Sep:112(3):153-165. doi: 10.32074/1591-951X-163. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 33179619]

Sipponen P, Price AB. The Sydney System for classification of gastritis 20 years ago. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. 2011 Jan:26 Suppl 1():31-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2010.06536.x. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 21199511]

Sugano K, Tack J, Kuipers EJ, Graham DY, El-Omar EM, Miura S, Haruma K, Asaka M, Uemura N, Malfertheiner P, faculty members of Kyoto Global Consensus Conference. Kyoto global consensus report on Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Gut. 2015 Sep:64(9):1353-67. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-309252. Epub 2015 Jul 17     [PubMed PMID: 26187502]

Yin Y, Liang H, Wei N, Zheng Z. Prevalence of chronic atrophic gastritis worldwide from 2010 to 2020: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of palliative medicine. 2022 Dec:11(12):3697-3703. doi: 10.21037/apm-21-1464. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 36635994]

Coati I, Fassan M, Farinati F, Graham DY, Genta RM, Rugge M. Autoimmune gastritis: Pathologist's viewpoint. World journal of gastroenterology. 2015 Nov 14:21(42):12179-89. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i42.12179. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 26576102]

Carmel R. Prevalence of undiagnosed pernicious anemia in the elderly. Archives of internal medicine. 1996 May 27:156(10):1097-100     [PubMed PMID: 8638997]

Mana F, Vandebosch S, Miendje Deyi V, Haentjens P, Urbain D. Prevalence of and risk factors for H. pylori infection in healthy children and young adults in Belgium anno 2010/2011. Acta gastro-enterologica Belgica. 2013 Dec:76(4):381-5     [PubMed PMID: 24592540]

Goh KL, Chan WK, Shiota S, Yamaoka Y. Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection and public health implications. Helicobacter. 2011 Sep:16 Suppl 1(0 1):1-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-5378.2011.00874.x. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 21896079]

Park JS, Jun JS, Seo JH, Youn HS, Rhee KH. Changing prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in children and adolescents. Clinical and experimental pediatrics. 2021 Jan:64(1):21-25. doi: 10.3345/cep.2019.01543. Epub 2020 Jul 15     [PubMed PMID: 32668822]

Shah SC, Piazuelo MB, Kuipers EJ, Li D. AGA Clinical Practice Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Atrophic Gastritis: Expert Review. Gastroenterology. 2021 Oct:161(4):1325-1332.e7. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.06.078. Epub 2021 Aug 26     [PubMed PMID: 34454714]

Azuma T, Yamakawa A, Yamazaki S, Fukuta K, Ohtani M, Ito Y, Dojo M, Yamazaki Y, Kuriyama M. Correlation between variation of the 3' region of the cagA gene in Helicobacter pylori and disease outcome in Japan. The Journal of infectious diseases. 2002 Dec 1:186(11):1621-30     [PubMed PMID: 12447739]

Mobley HL. The role of Helicobacter pylori urease in the pathogenesis of gastritis and peptic ulceration. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 1996 Apr:10 Suppl 1():57-64     [PubMed PMID: 8730260]

Kolopaking MS. Urease, Gastric Bacteria and Gastritis. Acta medica Indonesiana. 2022 Jan:54(1):1-2     [PubMed PMID: 35398819]

Goodwin CS, Worsley BW. Microbiology of Helicobacter pylori. Gastroenterology clinics of North America. 1993 Mar:22(1):5-19     [PubMed PMID: 8449570]

Di Tommaso A, Xiang Z, Bugnoli M, Pileri P, Figura N, Bayeli PF, Rappuoli R, Abrignani S, De Magistris MT. Helicobacter pylori-specific CD4+ T-cell clones from peripheral blood and gastric biopsies. Infection and immunity. 1995 Mar:63(3):1102-6     [PubMed PMID: 7868233]

Das S, Suarez G, Beswick EJ, Sierra JC, Graham DY, Reyes VE. Expression of B7-H1 on gastric epithelial cells: its potential role in regulating T cells during Helicobacter pylori infection. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950). 2006 Mar 1:176(5):3000-9     [PubMed PMID: 16493058]

Keates S, Hitti YS, Upton M, Kelly CP. Helicobacter pylori infection activates NF-kappa B in gastric epithelial cells. Gastroenterology. 1997 Oct:113(4):1099-109     [PubMed PMID: 9322504]

Väänänen H, Vauhkonen M, Helske T, Kääriäinen I, Rasmussen M, Tunturi-Hihnala H, Koskenpato J, Sotka M, Turunen M, Sandström R, Ristikankare M, Jussila A, Sipponen P. Non-endoscopic diagnosis of atrophic gastritis with a blood test. Correlation between gastric histology and serum levels of gastrin-17 and pepsinogen I: a multicentre study. European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology. 2003 Aug:15(8):885-91     [PubMed PMID: 12867799]

Varbanova M, Frauenschläger K, Malfertheiner P. Chronic gastritis - an update. Best practice & research. Clinical gastroenterology. 2014 Dec:28(6):1031-42. doi: 10.1016/j.bpg.2014.10.005. Epub 2014 Oct 30     [PubMed PMID: 25439069]

Lee JY, Kim N. Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori by invasive test: histology. Annals of translational medicine. 2015 Jan:3(1):10. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2014.11.03. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 25705642]

Genta RM, Hamner HW, Graham DY. Gastric lymphoid follicles in Helicobacter pylori infection: frequency, distribution, and response to triple therapy. Human pathology. 1993 Jun:24(6):577-83     [PubMed PMID: 8505036]

Neumann WL, Coss E, Rugge M, Genta RM. Autoimmune atrophic gastritis--pathogenesis, pathology and management. Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology. 2013 Sep:10(9):529-41. doi: 10.1038/nrgastro.2013.101. Epub 2013 Jun 18     [PubMed PMID: 23774773]

Radyk MD, Burclaff J, Willet SG, Mills JC. Metaplastic Cells in the Stomach Arise, Independently of Stem Cells, via Dedifferentiation or Transdifferentiation of Chief Cells. Gastroenterology. 2018 Mar:154(4):839-843.e2. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.11.278. Epub 2017 Dec 14     [PubMed PMID: 29248442]

Schmidt PH, Lee JR, Joshi V, Playford RJ, Poulsom R, Wright NA, Goldenring JR. Identification of a metaplastic cell lineage associated with human gastric adenocarcinoma. Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology. 1999 Jun:79(6):639-46     [PubMed PMID: 10378506]

Correa P, Piazuelo MB, Wilson KT. Pathology of gastric intestinal metaplasia: clinical implications. The American journal of gastroenterology. 2010 Mar:105(3):493-8. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2009.728. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 20203636]

González CA, Sanz-Anquela JM, Gisbert JP, Correa P. Utility of subtyping intestinal metaplasia as marker of gastric cancer risk. A review of the evidence. International journal of cancer. 2013 Sep 1:133(5):1023-32. doi: 10.1002/ijc.28003. Epub 2013 Feb 5     [PubMed PMID: 23280711]

Conchillo JM, Houben G, de Bruïne A, Stockbrügger R. Is type III intestinal metaplasia an obligatory precancerous lesion in intestinal-type gastric carcinoma? European journal of cancer prevention : the official journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ECP). 2001 Aug:10(4):307-12     [PubMed PMID: 11535872]

Asharaf A, Desai P, Sanati M. Emphysematous Gastritis. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2019 Dec 1:119(12):848. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2019.140. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 31790130]

Carabotti M, Lahner E, Esposito G, Sacchi MC, Severi C, Annibale B. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms in autoimmune gastritis: A cross-sectional study. Medicine. 2017 Jan:96(1):e5784. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000005784. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 28072728]

Rodriguez-Castro KI, Franceschi M, Miraglia C, Russo M, Nouvenne A, Leandro G, Meschi T, De' Angelis GL, Di Mario F. Autoimmune diseases in autoimmune atrophic gastritis. Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis. 2018 Dec 17:89(8-S):100-103. doi: 10.23750/abm.v89i8-S.7919. Epub 2018 Dec 17     [PubMed PMID: 30561426]

Garcés-Durán R, Llach J, Da Fieno A, Córdova H, Fernández-Esparrach G. Endoscopic diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Gastroenterologia y hepatologia. 2023 Jun-Jul:46(6):483-488. doi: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2022.09.008. Epub 2022 Oct 3     [PubMed PMID: 36195279]

Miwa H, Nagahara A, Asakawa A, Arai M, Oshima T, Kasugai K, Kamada K, Suzuki H, Tanaka F, Tominaga K, Futagami S, Hojo M, Mihara H, Higuchi K, Kusano M, Arisawa T, Kato M, Joh T, Mochida S, Enomoto N, Shimosegawa T, Koike K. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for functional dyspepsia 2021. Journal of gastroenterology. 2022 Feb:57(2):47-61. doi: 10.1007/s00535-021-01843-7. Epub 2022 Jan 21     [PubMed PMID: 35061057]

Moayyedi P, Lacy BE, Andrews CN, Enns RA, Howden CW, Vakil N. ACG and CAG Clinical Guideline: Management of Dyspepsia. The American journal of gastroenterology. 2017 Jul:112(7):988-1013. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2017.154. Epub 2017 Jun 20     [PubMed PMID: 28631728]

Fischbach W, Malfertheiner P. Helicobacter Pylori Infection. Deutsches Arzteblatt international. 2018 Jun 22:115(25):429-436. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2018.0429. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 29999489]

Venerito M, Varbanova M, Röhl FW, Reinhold D, Frauenschläger K, Jechorek D, Weigt J, Link A, Malfertheiner P. Oxyntic gastric atrophy in Helicobacter pylori gastritis is distinct from autoimmune gastritis. Journal of clinical pathology. 2016 Aug:69(8):677-85. doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2015-203405. Epub 2016 Jan 4     [PubMed PMID: 26729016]

Alonso N, Granada ML, Soldevila B, Salinas I, Joaquin C, Reverter JL, Juncà J, Martínez Cáceres EM, Sanmartí A. Serum autoimmune gastritis markers, pepsinogen I and parietal cell antibodies, in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a 5-year prospective study. Journal of endocrinological investigation. 2011 May:34(5):340-4     [PubMed PMID: 20530988]

di Mario F, Cavallaro LG. Non-invasive tests in gastric diseases. Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver. 2008 Jul:40(7):523-30. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2008.02.028. Epub 2008 Apr 24     [PubMed PMID: 18439884]

Du LJ, Chen BR, Kim JJ, Kim S, Shen JH, Dai N. Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy for functional dyspepsia: Systematic review and meta-analysis. World journal of gastroenterology. 2016 Mar 28:22(12):3486-95. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i12.3486. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 27022230]

Pimentel-Nunes P, Libânio D, Marcos-Pinto R, Areia M, Leja M, Esposito G, Garrido M, Kikuste I, Megraud F, Matysiak-Budnik T, Annibale B, Dumonceau JM, Barros R, Fléjou JF, Carneiro F, van Hooft JE, Kuipers EJ, Dinis-Ribeiro M. Management of epithelial precancerous conditions and lesions in the stomach (MAPS II): European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE), European Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group (EHMSG), European Society of Pathology (ESP), and Sociedade Portuguesa de Endoscopia Digestiva (SPED) guideline update 2019. Endoscopy. 2019 Apr:51(4):365-388. doi: 10.1055/a-0859-1883. Epub 2019 Mar 6     [PubMed PMID: 30841008]

Gudej S, Filip R, Harasym J, Wilczak J, Dziendzikowska K, Oczkowski M, Jałosińska M, Juszczak M, Lange E, Gromadzka-Ostrowska J. Clinical Outcomes after Oat Beta-Glucans Dietary Treatment in Gastritis Patients. Nutrients. 2021 Aug 14:13(8):. doi: 10.3390/nu13082791. Epub 2021 Aug 14     [PubMed PMID: 34444949]

Rugge M, Meggio A, Pennelli G, Piscioli F, Giacomelli L, De Pretis G, Graham DY. Gastritis staging in clinical practice: the OLGA staging system. Gut. 2007 May:56(5):631-6     [PubMed PMID: 17142647]

Lahner E, Esposito G, Pilozzi E, Purchiaroni F, Corleto VD, Di Giulio E, Annibale B. Occurrence of gastric cancer and carcinoids in atrophic gastritis during prospective long-term follow up. Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. 2015 Jul:50(7):856-65. doi: 10.3109/00365521.2015.1010570. Epub 2015 Feb 3     [PubMed PMID: 25645880]

Mahmud N, Stashek K, Katona BW, Tondon R, Shroff SG, Roses R, Furth EE, Metz DC. The incidence of neoplasia in patients with autoimmune metaplastic atrophic gastritis: a renewed call for surveillance. Annals of gastroenterology. 2019 Jan-Feb:32(1):67-72. doi: 10.20524/aog.2018.0325. Epub 2018 Nov 8     [PubMed PMID: 30598594]

Watari J, Chen N, Amenta PS, Fukui H, Oshima T, Tomita T, Miwa H, Lim KJ, Das KM. Helicobacter pylori associated chronic gastritis, clinical syndromes, precancerous lesions, and pathogenesis of gastric cancer development. World journal of gastroenterology. 2014 May 14:20(18):5461-73. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5461. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 24833876]

Tsay FW, Hsu PI. H. pylori infection and extra-gastroduodenal diseases. Journal of biomedical science. 2018 Aug 29:25(1):65. doi: 10.1186/s12929-018-0469-6. Epub 2018 Aug 29     [PubMed PMID: 30157866]

Wijarnpreecha K, Thongprayoon C, Panjawatanan P, Manatsathit W, Jaruvongvanich V, Ungprasert P. Helicobacter pylori and Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of clinical gastroenterology. 2018 May/Jun:52(5):386-391. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000784. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 28098578]

Malfertheiner P, Megraud F, O'Morain CA, Gisbert JP, Kuipers EJ, Axon AT, Bazzoli F, Gasbarrini A, Atherton J, Graham DY, Hunt R, Moayyedi P, Rokkas T, Rugge M, Selgrad M, Suerbaum S, Sugano K, El-Omar EM, European Helicobacter and Microbiota Study Group and Consensus panel. Management of Helicobacter pylori infection-the Maastricht V/Florence Consensus Report. Gut. 2017 Jan:66(1):6-30. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-312288. Epub 2016 Oct 5     [PubMed PMID: 27707777]

Zucca E, Bertoni F, Roggero E, Bosshard G, Cazzaniga G, Pedrinis E, Biondi A, Cavalli F. Molecular analysis of the progression from Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic gastritis to mucosa-associated lymphoid-tissue lymphoma of the stomach. The New England journal of medicine. 1998 Mar 19:338(12):804-10     [PubMed PMID: 9504941]

Lin WC, Tsai HF, Kuo SH, Wu MS, Lin CW, Hsu PI, Cheng AL, Hsu PN. Translocation of Helicobacter pylori CagA into Human B lymphocytes, the origin of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Cancer research. 2010 Jul 15:70(14):5740-8. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-4690. Epub 2010 Jun 29     [PubMed PMID: 20587516]

Okame M, Takaya S, Sato H, Adachi E, Ohno N, Kikuchi T, Koga M, Oyaizu N, Ota Y, Fujii T, Iwamoto A, Koibuchi T. Complete regression of early-stage gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in an HIV-1-infected patient following Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 2014 May:58(10):1490-2. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciu111. Epub 2014 Feb 27     [PubMed PMID: 24585569]

Hershko C, Lahad A, Kereth D. Gastropathic sideropenia. Best practice & research. Clinical haematology. 2005 Jun:18(2):363-80     [PubMed PMID: 15737896]

Kulnigg-Dabsch S, Resch M, Oberhuber G, Klinglmueller F, Gasche A, Gasche C. Iron deficiency workup reveals high incidence of autoimmune gastritis with parietal cell antibody as reliable screening test. Seminars in hematology. 2018 Oct:55(4):256-261. doi: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2018.07.003. Epub 2018 Aug 7     [PubMed PMID: 30502855]

Bionda M, Kapoglou I, Wiest R. [H. pylori-associated gastritis: diagnostic, treatment and surveillance]. Therapeutische Umschau. Revue therapeutique. 2020:77(4):127-131. doi: 10.1024/0040-5930/a001167. Epub     [PubMed PMID: 32772697]

Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out, click and drag to pan the image

  • GP practice services
  • Health advice
  • Health research
  • Medical professionals
  • Health topics

Advice and clinical information on a wide variety of healthcare topics.

All health topics

Latest features

Allergies, blood & immune system

Bones, joints and muscles

Brain and nerves

Chest and lungs

Children's health

Cosmetic surgery

  • Digestive health

Ear, nose and throat

General health & lifestyle

Heart health and blood vessels

Kidney & urinary tract

Men's health

Mental health

Oral and dental care

Senior health

Sexual health

Signs and symptoms

Skin, nail and hair health

Travel and vaccinations

Treatment and medication

Women's health

Healthy living

Expert insight and opinion on nutrition, physical and mental health.

Exercise and physical activity

Healthy eating

Healthy relationships

Managing harmful habits

Mental wellbeing

Relaxation and sleep

Managing conditions

From ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure, to steroids for eczema, find out what options are available, how they work and the possible side effects.

Featured conditions

ADHD in children

Crohn's disease

Endometriosis

Fibromyalgia

Gastroenteritis

Irritable bowel syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Scarlet fever

Tonsillitis

Vaginal thrush

Health conditions A-Z

Medicine information

Information and fact sheets for patients and professionals. Find out side effects, medicine names, dosages and uses.

All medicines A-Z

Allergy medicines

Analgesics and pain medication

Anti-inflammatory medicines

Breathing treatment and respiratory care

Cancer treatment and drugs

Contraceptive medicines

Diabetes medicines

ENT and mouth care

Eye care medicine

Gastrointestinal treatment

Genitourinary medicine

Heart disease treatment and prevention

Hormonal imbalance treatment

Hormone deficiency treatment

Immunosuppressive drugs

Infection treatment medicine

Kidney conditions treatments

Muscle, bone and joint pain treatment

Nausea medicine and vomiting treatment

Nervous system drugs

Reproductive health

Skin conditions treatments

Substance abuse treatment

Vaccines and immunisation

Vitamin and mineral supplements

Tests & investigations

Information and guidance about tests and an easy, fast and accurate symptom checker.

About tests & investigations

Symptom checker

Blood tests

BMI calculator

Pregnancy due date calculator

General signs and symptoms

Patient health questionnaire

Generalised anxiety disorder assessment

Medical professional hub

Information and tools written by clinicians for medical professionals, and training resources provided by FourteenFish.

Content for medical professionals

FourteenFish training

Professional articles

Evidence-based professional reference pages authored by our clinical team for the use of medical professionals.

View all professional articles A-Z

Actinic keratosis

Bronchiolitis

Molluscum contagiosum

Obesity in adults

Osmolality, osmolarity, and fluid homeostasis

Recurrent abdominal pain in children

Medical tools and resources

Clinical tools for medical professional use.

All medical tools and resources

  • Abdominal pain

Peer reviewed by Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGP Last updated by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP Last updated 27 Sept 2023

Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines

In this series: Indigestion Functional dyspepsia Stomach ulcer Duodenal ulcer Helicobacter pylori Gastroscopy

Gastritis is very common. It occurs when the lining of your stomach becomes swollen (inflamed). Gastritis is usually mild and resolves without any treatment. However, gastritis can cause pain in the upper part of your tummy (abdomen) and may lead to a stomach ulcer.

Some simple changes to your lifestyle and using over-the-counter antacid medicines are often all that is required. Other medicines to reduce the acid in your stomach are sometimes needed. Gastritis usually resolves without any problems.

However, if not treated properly, gastritis can last for a long time or may lead to a stomach ulcer or cause anaemia.

In this article :

What causes gastritis, gastritis symptoms, what else might it be, how to treat gastritis, when to see your doctor about gastritis, how long does gastritis last, what tests may be done for gastritis, what are the possible complications of gastritis.

Continue reading below

Your stomach normally produces acid to help with the digestion of food in your digestive tract and to kill germs (bacteria).

This acid is corrosive, so some cells on the inside lining of the stomach produce a natural mucous barrier. This protects the lining of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum).

There is normally a balance between the amount of acid that you make and the mucous defence barrier. Gastritis may develop if there is an alteration in this balance, allowing the acid to damage the lining of the stomach.

Infection with H. pylori gastritis

Infection with H. pylori is the cause in about 8 in 10 cases of stomach ulcer. Once you are infected, unless treated, the infection usually stays for the rest of your life. See the separate leaflet called Helicobacter Pylori for more information .

Anti-inflammatory medicines - including aspirin

Anti-inflammatory medicines are sometimes called NSAIDs. Many people take an anti-inflammatory medicine for joint inflammation (arthritis), muscular pains, etc.

These medicines sometimes affect the mucous barrier of the stomach and allow acid to cause an ulcer. About 2 in 10 stomach ulcers are caused by anti-inflammatory medicines.

Other causes

A stressful event - such as a bad injury or critical illness, or major surgery. Exactly why stress and serious illness can lead to gastritis is not known. However, it may be related to decreased blood flow to the stomach.

Less commonly, gastritis can be caused by an autoimmune reaction - when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells and tissues (in this case, inflammation of the stomach lining).

This may happen if you already have another autoimmune condition, such as Hashimoto's thyroid disease or type 1 diabetes .

Other causes of gastritis include cocaine abuse or drinking too much alcohol . Occasionally viruses, parasites, fungi and bacteria other than H. pylori are the culprits.

Many people with gastritis don't have any symptoms. However, gastritis can cause indigestion (dyspepsia ).

Symptoms of gastritis may start suddenly and resolve quickly (acute gastritis) or may develop slowly and last for a long period of time (chronic gastritis).

Pain in your upper tummy (abdomen) just below the breastbone (sternum) is the common symptom. It usually comes and goes. It may be eased if you take antacid tablets. Sometimes food makes the pain worse. The pain may also wake you from sleep.

Other gastritis symptoms which may occur include:

Loss of appetite.

Feeling sick (nausea).

Being sick (vomiting).

You may feel particularly 'full' after a meal.

Don't assume that stomach pain is always a sign of gastritis - the pain could be caused by a wide range of other things, such as a non-ulcer dyspepsia , duodenal ulcer , stomach ulcer or irritable bowel syndrome . See the separate leaflet called Abdominal Pain .

If you have indigestion and stomach pain, you can try treating this yourself with changes to your diet and lifestyle as follows:

Eating smaller and more frequent meals.

Avoiding irritating foods, such as spicy, acidic (for example, fruit juices), fried or fatty foods.

Not drinking any alcohol.

Stopping smoking .

Reducing stress .

If you think the cause of your gastritis is repeated use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) , try switching to a different painkiller that isn't in the NSAID class, such as paracetamol .

You may want to talk with your GP about this - medicines that reduce the amount of acid in your stomach are usually recommended.

Acid-suppressing medication

Antacids can be used as a treatment for gastritis to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach and so let the gastritis resolve.

If treatment with antacid medicine is not enough then a medicine called an H2 blocker (such as famotidine) may be used.

An alternative medicine that may be used is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) such as lansoprazole or omeprazole .

See the separate leaflet called Indigestion Medication for more information .

If your gastritis is caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

The tests may show that you have infection with H. pylori . See the separate leaflet called Helicobacter Pylori for more details about the treatment for H. pylori infection .

If your gastritis is caused by an anti-inflammatory medicine

If possible, you should stop the anti-inflammatory medicine. This allows the gastritis to heal. You will also normally be prescribed an acid-suppressing medicine for several weeks. This stops the stomach from making acid and allows the gastritis to heal.

However, in many cases the anti-inflammatory medicine is needed to ease symptoms of joint inflammation (arthritis) or other painful conditions, or aspirin is needed to protect against blood clots.

In these situations, one option is to take an acid-suppressing medicine each day indefinitely. This reduces the amount of acid made by the stomach and greatly reduces the chance of gastritis forming again.

See your GP if:

You have bad pain in your tummy (abdomen) or feel unwell.

You have pain or any other indigestion symptoms lasting for more than a week.

The gastritis starts after taking any medicine (prescription or over-the-counter).

You have recently lost weight without deliberately trying to diet.

You are finding it difficult to swallow, as if food is getting stuck.

You need to call an emergency ambulance if:

You are vomiting blood or the colour of the vomit is like coffee.

You have any blood in your stools (faeces). (Bleeding from your stomach may make your stools look black.)

The length of symptoms can vary depending on the cause and how actively it is managed, either by lifestyle change or medication or a combination of both.

Your GP can usually make a diagnosis of gastritis by taking a history of your symptoms and an examination of your tummy (abdomen). Mild gastritis does not usually need any tests.

If gastritis doesn't get better quickly or causes severe pain then your GP will arrange tests. Your GP may arrange blood tests, including a test for anaemia, as gastritis occasionally causes some bleeding from your stomach lining.

Gastroscopy (endoscopy) is the test that can confirm gastritis. In this test a doctor looks inside your stomach by passing a thin, flexible telescope down your gullet (oesophagus).

They can see any inflammation or if there is any other abnormality, such as a stomach ulcer. Not everyone with symptoms of gastritis will need to be referred for an endoscopy.

Small samples (biopsies) are usually taken of the stomach lining during endoscopy. These are sent to the laboratory to be looked at under the microscope. This also checks for stomach cancer (which is ruled out in most cases).

A test to detect the H. pylori germ (bacterium) may also be done. H. pylori can be detected in a stool test (faeces), or in a 'breath test', or from a blood test, or from a biopsy sample taken during an endoscopy. See the separate leaflet called Helicobacter Pylori for more details .

Having a barium swallow and X-ray is another way to look for changes (such as ulcers) in the stomach lining. It is not as accurate as an endoscopy.

Gastritis usually resolves without any complications. Occasionally gastritis may develop into a stomach ulcer .

Bleeding from the stomach lining may also occur. This may cause you to bring up (vomit) blood (haematemesis) and you may become anaemic.

Further reading and references

  • Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and dyspepsia in adults: investigation and management ; NICE Clinical Guideline (Sept 2014 - last updated October 2019)
  • Cellini M, Santaguida MG, Virili C, et al ; Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Autoimmune Gastritis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2017 Apr 26;8:92. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00092. eCollection 2017.
  • Sipponen P, Maaroos HI ; Chronic gastritis. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2015 Jun;50(6):657-67. doi: 10.3109/00365521.2015.1019918. Epub 2015 Apr 22.
  • Dyspepsia - proven functional ; NICE CKS, July 2023 (UK access only)
  • Dyspepsia - proven peptic ulcer ; NICE CKS, July 2023 (UK access only)

Article history

The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

Next review due: 25 Sept 2028

27 sept 2023 | latest version.

Last updated by

Peer reviewed by

12 Oct 2015 | Originally published

Authored by:

symptom checker

Feeling unwell?

Assess your symptoms online for free

Got any suggestions?

We want to hear from you! Send us a message and help improve Slidesgo

Top searches

Trending searches

gastritis presentation

11 templates

gastritis presentation

67 templates

gastritis presentation

21 templates

gastritis presentation

environmental science

36 templates

gastritis presentation

9 templates

gastritis presentation

holy spirit

Gastritis symptoms and causes, it seems that you like this template, gastritis symptoms and causes presentation, premium google slides theme and powerpoint template.

Are you experiencing discomfort in your stomach? It could be gastritis! Do you know the symptoms and causes of gastritis? Maybe a medical template packed with amazing stomach illustrations can be very informative about it and help you understand the signs and reasons behind this inflammation. From the cool design to the helpful information, this template is ready to help you navigate your way to better help. And the content was implemented from an AI, so the information is reliable! Download this template, edit it with your information and present about gastritis!

Features of this template

  • 100% editable and easy to modify
  • 20 different slides to impress your audience
  • Contains easy-to-edit graphics such as graphs, maps, tables, timelines and mockups
  • Includes 500+ icons and Flaticon’s extension for customizing your slides
  • Designed to be used in Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint
  • 16:9 widescreen format suitable for all types of screens
  • Includes information about fonts, colors, and credits of the resources used

What are the benefits of having a Premium account?

What Premium plans do you have?

What can I do to have unlimited downloads?

Don’t want to attribute Slidesgo?

Gain access to over 24500 templates & presentations with premium from 1.67€/month.

Are you already Premium? Log in

Related posts on our blog

How to Add, Duplicate, Move, Delete or Hide Slides in Google Slides | Quick Tips & Tutorial for your presentations

How to Add, Duplicate, Move, Delete or Hide Slides in Google Slides

How to Change Layouts in PowerPoint | Quick Tips & Tutorial for your presentations

How to Change Layouts in PowerPoint

How to Change the Slide Size in Google Slides | Quick Tips & Tutorial for your presentations

How to Change the Slide Size in Google Slides

Related presentations.

Paraphilias Causes and Symptoms presentation template

Premium template

Unlock this template and gain unlimited access

Anaphylaxis Symptoms and Causes presentation template

IMAGES

  1. Gastritis Infographic Poster Stock Vector

    gastritis presentation

  2. PPT

    gastritis presentation

  3. Gastritis Treatment Doctor NYC

    gastritis presentation

  4. PPT

    gastritis presentation

  5. Chronic gastritis

    gastritis presentation

  6. Causes Of Gastritis And How To Deal With It

    gastritis presentation

VIDEO

  1. Case presentation on Gastritis

  2. Gastritis in brief 2020

  3. GIT

  4. El Salvador Atlas of Gastrointestinal Video Endoscopy

  5. GI for USMLE Step 1

  6. GIT Lecture 12 (LARGE INTESTINE

COMMENTS

  1. Gastritis

    Gastritis is a condition that involves inflammation of the stomach lining, which can be diagnosed by histopathology. Gastropathy is a similar disorder without inflammation, but with epithelial injury and regeneration. This webpage from NCBI Bookshelf provides a comprehensive overview of the causes, types, symptoms, diagnosis, and management of gastritis and gastropathy. Learn more about this ...

  2. Gastritis

    Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. The stomach lining is a mucus-lined barrier that protects the stomach wall. Weaknesses or injury to the barrier allows digestive juices to damage and inflame the stomach lining. Several diseases and conditions can increase the risk of gastritis. These include inflammatory conditions, such as ...

  3. Gastritis: What It Is, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

    Nonerosive gastritis doesn't leave erosive changes but may cause irritation, such as reddening of the stomach lining. A specific form of nonerosive gastritis, atrophic gastritis, can cause your stomach lining to react by thinning or wasting away (atrophy). This can cause digestive issues. Gastritis may go by a more specific name, based on the ...

  4. Gastritis: Etiology and diagnosis

    Gastritis is predominantly an inflammatory process, while the term gastropathy denotes a gastric mucosal disorder with minimal to no inflammation. Although the term "gastritis" is often used to describe endoscopic or radiologic characteristics of abnormal-appearing gastric mucosa, a diagnosis of gastritis requires histopathologic evidence of ...

  5. Acute Gastritis Clinical Presentation

    Acute gastritis is a term covering a broad spectrum of entities that induce inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa. The different etiologies share the same general clinical presentation. News & Perspective

  6. Gastritis

    Medicines used to treat gastritis include: Antibiotics to kill H. pylori. For H. pylori in your digestive tract, your healthcare professional may recommend a combination of antibiotics to kill the germs. Be sure to take the full antibiotic prescription, usually for 7 to 14 days.

  7. Overview of Gastritis

    Gastritis is inflammation of the gastric mucosa caused by any of several conditions, including infection (Helicobacter pylori), drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol), stress, and autoimmune phenomena (atrophic gastritis). Many cases are asymptomatic, but dyspepsia and gastrointestinal bleeding sometimes occur.

  8. Chronic Gastritis Clinical Presentation

    Lymphocytic gastritis mostly affects middle-aged or elderly patients. It may be associated with chronic H pylori infection, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, and Menetrier disease. It may represent a hypersensitivity reaction involving the gastric body. Lymphocytic gastritis has been described as complicating MALT lymphoma and gastric carcinoma.

  9. Acute Gastritis: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

    Acute gastritis is a term that encompasses a broad spectrum of entities that induce inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa. Several different etiologies share the same general clinical presentation; however, they differ in their unique histologic characteristics. The inflammation may involve the entire stomach (eg, pangastritis) or a region ...

  10. Acute Gastritis: What Is It, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and More

    Acute gastritis occurs as a result of weakness or injury to the gastric mucosa, which can allow stomach acids to further damage and inflame the lining. There are several risk factors for damage of the gastric mucosa, including use of certain medications, infections, acute stress, and dietary factors. One of the main causes of acute gastritis is ...

  11. Gastritis

    Gastritis is an inflammatory process of the gastric mucosa that can be caused by a variety of conditions, commonly H. pylori infection or the use of drugs such as NSAIDs. Patients typically present with dyspepsia and should be tested for H. pylori if there are no indications for EGD. Depending on the results, patients receive eradication ...

  12. Acute gastritis

    Acute gastritis is a broad term that encompasses a myriad of causes of gastric mucosal inflammation. Epidemiology It depends on the etiology (see below). Clinical presentation asymptomatic epigastric pain/tenderness nausea and vomiting lo...

  13. Gastritis

    Gastritis: correlation of endoscopic and histologic findings • 98 patients with endoscopic mucosal changes attributed to gastritis: 27 had normal biopsy • 69 patients with normal endoscopic appearance: 63% had histologic evidence of gastritis • Interobserver variability for some features of gastritis (Gastrointest Endosc 1995;42:420)

  14. Gastritis

    2. DEFINITION: Gastritis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa, is classified as either acute or chronic. INCIDENCE: The incidence of gastritis is highest in the fifth and sixth decades of life; men are more frequently affected than women. The incidence is greater in clients who are heavy drinkers and smokers.

  15. Gastritis

    This review discusses the histological and morphological presentations of gastritis, assesses their prognostic significance, and outlines the guideline-recommended management approaches for these conditions. The primary objective of this topic is to improve patient outcomes by enhancing the competence of healthcare providers.

  16. Gastritis (Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment)

    It occurs when the lining of your stomach becomes swollen (inflamed). Gastritis is usually mild and resolves without any treatment. However, gastritis can cause pain in the upper part of your tummy (abdomen) and may lead to a stomach ulcer. Some simple changes to your lifestyle and using over-the-counter antacid medicines are often all that is ...

  17. Gastritis.ppt

    1 Gastritis Raika Jamali M.D. Gastroenterologist and hepatologist Sina Hospital Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2 Histologically documented inflammation of the gastric mucosa There is no typical clinical manifestation of gastritis 3 4 inflammation and atrophy in different types of atrophic and nonatrophic chronic gastritis 5 Acute ...

  18. Acute Gastritis Treatment & Management

    Acute gastritis is a term covering a broad spectrum of entities that induce inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa. The different etiologies share the same general clinical presentation. News & Perspective

  19. Acute Gastritis

    Gastritis is simply the inflammation of gastric mucosa. There are many types of gastritis. But they can be broadly categorized under two main types.1. Acute ...

  20. Long-Term Natural History of Autoimmune Gastritis: Results F

    ucted in a tertiary referral center. Patients with AIG at any stage (0 = potential; 1 = early; 2 = florid; 3 = severe; and 4 = complicated) were enrolled (January 2000-December 2022). The histopathological evolution, the clinical presentation, and the correlates of evolution of potential AIG were assessed. RESULTS: Four hundred ninety-eight patients with AIG (mean age 56.7 ± 15.2 years, F:M ...

  21. Gastritis Symptoms and Causes Presentation

    Premium Google Slides theme and PowerPoint template. Are you experiencing discomfort in your stomach? It could be gastritis! Do you know the symptoms and causes of gastritis? Maybe a medical template packed with amazing stomach illustrations can be very informative about it and help you understand the signs and reasons behind this inflammation ...

  22. Gastritis

    Continuing Education Activity. Gastritis is a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the stomach lining. This condition can manifest in various forms—from mild and asymptomatic cases to severe presentations associated with significant morbidity.