Gastritis: Pathological Classification
Gastritis is inflammation of the gastric mucosa, categorized by the site of involvement and the underlying etiology. Understanding these patterns is crucial for clinical management and assessing long-term cancer risk.
1. Key Etiological Patterns
| Type | Key Features |
|---|---|
| H. pylori (Antral) | Most common cause. Increases gastrin secretion; associated with peptic ulcer disease. |
| Autoimmune (Fundus/Body) | Antibodies against parietal cells/intrinsic factor. Causes atrophic gastritis and pernicious anemia. |
| Chemical (Reactive) | Caused by NSAIDs, alcohol, or bile reflux. |
2. Exam Must-Knows
- Autoimmune Gastritis Specifics: Due to the destruction of parietal cells, you see achlorhydria (leading to increased gastrin as a compensatory response) and vitamin B12 deficiency (megaloblastic anemia).
- H. pylori Cancer Risk: Chronic H. pylori infection (especially if it spreads to the body/fundus) increases the risk of both gastric adenocarcinoma and MALT lymphoma.
- Menetrier Disease: A rare form of hypertrophic gastropathy characterized by massive enlargement of gastric rugal folds, protein loss, and parietal cell atrophy.
Pathology Board Hint: For board exams, always distinguish between H. pylori (often antral, associated with ulcers) and Autoimmune (body/fundus, associated with B12 deficiency). Remember that in autoimmune gastritis, the gastrin levels are significantly elevated due to the loss of negative feedback from gastric acid.