Gastritis

Question 1

What is gastritis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the lining of the stomach

Question 2

What causes gastritis?

Answer 2

H. pylori infection
Alcohol
NSAIDs
Auto-immune gastritis

Question 3

Where do H. pylori infect in the stomach?

Answer 3

The mucin layer, the layer on top of the cells

Question 4

What are the clinical features of gastritis?

Answer 4

Epigastric pain
Vomiting, haematemesis
Belching
Bloating
Early satiety
Loss of appetite

Question 5

Diagnosis of gastritis?

Answer 5

Endoscopy + biopsy: classified as acute or chronic

Question 6

What’s the difference between acute and chronic gastritis?

Answer 6

Differentiate using history + histologically

Acute: Usually due to damage to mucosa (NSAIDs), see neutrophilic inflammation

Chronic: Problems with mucosa, autoimmune etc.
Mononuclear cells inflammation, lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages

Question 7

Treatment of gastritis?

Answer 7

Eradicate H. pylori

Antacids, PPIs, H2 blockers

Troxipide: drug that improves gastric mucosa

Question 8

Prevention of gastritis?

Answer 8

If they’re taking NSAIDs, give PPIs

Or, prescribe enteric coated aspirin which only dissolves in alkaline condition

Question 9

How do H. pylori cause gastritis and ulcers and things?

Answer 9

They produce chemical mediators that induce inflammation

These also attract neutrophils

This causes damage inflammation

Intestinal metaplasia

Question 10

What is intestinal metaplasia, and when does it happen

Answer 10

Happens in a chronic H. pylori infection in the stomach

Stomach epithelium becomes like the small intestine epithelium