Chronic autoimmune gastritis
Type A gastritis
In the event of autoimmune-induced Gastritis in antibodies against the parietal cells of the stomach (stomach acid production) and / or against the so-called intrinsic factor. This is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12. By atrophy of the parietal cells, the patients produce insufficient stomach acid (achlorhydria). The lack of intrinsic factor can be a vitamin B12 deficiency anemia (pernicious anemia) may develop.
This form of gastritis often starts in the upper part of the stomach (cardia) and spreads from there to the mucosa of the gastric body (body out).
The cause for the formation of autoantibodies is unclear. Certain of the diseases could be related to an infection by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
Frequency
The type A gastritis represents about 3-6% of all gastritis (50% of people over 50 have a gastritis)
Symptoms
- often makes the symptoms of gastritis do not
- possibly bloating, pain under the diaphragm, bloating and diarrhea
Diagnosis
- The diagnosis of gastritis is made by means of a gastric endoscopy (gastroscopy), will be taken from the small samples (biopsies) from the mucous membrane and then be examined in the laboratory.
- Determination of antibodies in
Complications
- pernicious anemia (see above)
- The risk of stomach cancer is increased
Therapy
- appropriate treatment of pernicious anemia (vitamin B12 and folic acid substitution vin),
- Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection if present
- Regular monitoring (approximately every three years) by gastroscopy because of the increased cancer risk