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Overview |
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Definition |
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Gastritis is inflammation of the gastric mucosa. It is a group of disorders,
not a single disease entity. These disorders are distinguished by clinical
features, histologic findings, anatomic distribution, and
etiology.
- Erosive and hemorrhagic gastritis is generally associated with
alcoholism, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) injury, stress lesions
in critically ill patients (e.g., intensive care unit [ICU] disease), trauma
(e.g., nasogastric tube suction, retching, radiation, chemotherapy), and surgery
(e.g., postgastrectomy).
- Nonerosive, nonspecific gastritis is generally associated with
infectious etiologies (e.g., Helicobactor pylori), aging, gastric or
duodenal ulcers, autoimmune diseases (e.g., pernicious anemia, lymphocytic
gastritis), and reactive gastropathies (e.g., postgastrectomy).
- Distinctive gastritis is generally associated with bacterial (e.g.,
syphilis, tuberculosis), viral (e.g., cytomegalovirus), fungal (e.g.,
Candida), and parasitic (e.g., cryptosporidiosis) infections; with
chronic systemic inflammatory diseases (e.g., Crohn's disease, sarcoidosis), as
well as with unknown localized disease of unknown causes (e.g., Menetrier's
disease).
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Etiology |
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- NSAID use
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Reflux injury (e.g., bile)
- Trauma (e.g., surgery, radiation, vomiting, foreign body)
- Bacterial infections (e.g., H. pylori, Treponema
pallidum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
- Autoimmune etiologies (e.g., pernicious anemia)
- Viral, fungal, and parasitic infections
- Systemic disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, sarcoidosis,
graft-versus-host disease)
- Unknown causes (e.g., Menetrier's disease or other hypertrophic
gastropathies)
- Stress lesions
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Risk Factors |
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For erosive and hemorrhagic gastritis:
- Exposure to ulcerogenic drugs
- Alcoholism
- Severe illness or trauma
For nonerosive gastritis:
- Colonization with H. pylori in early childhood
- Familial contact infected with H. pylori
- Latino or African-American ancestry
- Institutionalized individuals
- Low socioeconomic status
- Gastroenterologists (person-to-person transmission, especially from
endoscopy)
- Age over 60 years
- History of pernicious anema or gastric
lymphoma
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Signs and Symptoms |
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Most patients are asymptomatic; even gastric erosions and hemorrhages are not
usually associated with abdominal pain. Symptomatic patients often have other
gastrointestinal conditions, and gastritis is diagnosed as an incidental
histologic finding. Presenting complaints may include the
following.
- Dyspepsia
- Anorexia
- Abdominal pain often aggravated by eating
- Nausea with/without vomiting
- Gastrointestinal bleeding (e.g., hematemesis,
melena)
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Differential
Diagnosis |
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- Nonulcerative dyspepsia
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Gastric cancer
- Gastroenteritis
- Celiac disease
- Functional gastrointestinal disorder
- Pancreatic disease
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Diagnosis |
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Physical Examination |
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Unremarkable physical presentation unless the patient presents with abdominal
pain, bleeding, vomiting, and anorexia, where the patient looks ill, pale, and
in severe cases, cachectic (malnourished) or dehydrated. |
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Laboratory Tests |
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Usually unremarkable unless the patient presents with pernicious anemia.
Blood or breath tests, as well as tissue examination, can detect H. pylori
(the major cause of nonerosive gastritis).
- Histologic studies using the following stains: hematoxylin and eosin,
modified Giemsa, Warthin-Starry, Gram
- Serologic studies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA)
- Histologic studies using the rapid urease test (H. pylori
produces increased quantities of urease)
- Urea carbon breath test using 13C- and 14C-labeled urea, given
orally; it is hydrolyzed by the urease produced by H. pylori, creating
ammonia and CO2; CO2 in patient's breath then measured
- Serologic studies using polymerase chain reaction
(PCR)
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Pathology/Pathophysiology |
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For erosive and hemorrhagic gastritis:
- Erosions (breaks in the mucosa that do not extend beyond the
muscularis mucosae) that appear as multiple lesions surrounded by
erythema
- Hemorrhagic lesions that appear as bright red streaks or
petechiae
- Epithelial abnormalities and hyperplasia
- Minimal inflammation
For nonerosive gastritis:
- Clumps of mononuclear cells and neutrophils
- Foveolar hypoplasia (abnormal pit epithelium)
- Intestinal metaplasia (epithelial cells resemble intestinal
epithelium)
- Mucus gland metaplasia (fundus replaced by mucus glands)
- Endocrine cell hyperplasia
- H. pylori organisms
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Imaging |
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Imaging studies such as an upper GI series are used to rule out conditions
that mimic gastritis such as gastroesophageal reflux or gastric
malignancy. |
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Other Diagnostic
Procedures |
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Endoscopy with biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing gastritis (several
suspected areas must be biopsied because of patchy and irregular distribution).
A complete blood count will detect anemia, and a guaiac test of stool or vomitus
will detect gastrointestinal bleeding. |
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Treatment Options |
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Treatment Strategy |
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No specific treatment is required for gastritis even with atrophic changes in
asymptomatic individuals; however, treat associated conditions in symptomatic
patients. |
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Drug Therapies |
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To treat H. pylori infection: triple-drug therapy (for two weeks) to
prevent antibiotic resistance, Pepto-Bismol, 2 tablets every six hours;
metronidazole, 250 mg every eight hours; and tetracycline, 500 mg every eight
hours; use amoxicillin (500 mg every eight hours) if tetracycline is not
tolerated. Treatment of asymptomatic H. pylori infections is
controversial; at present H. pylori is only treated if associated with
duodenal and gastric ulcers and MALT lymphoma.
To treat peptic ulcer disease: triple-drug therapy (for one week) to reduce
acid production—omeprazole, 20 mg bid; clarithromycin,
250 mg bid; and metronidazole, 500 mg bid. |
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Complementary and Alternative
Therapies |
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Nutritional and herbal support help to heal gastric mucosa, fight infection,
and reduce recurrence. In addition, mind-body techniques such as meditation,
progressive muscle relaxation, tai chi, yoga, and stress management may reduce
the frequency and severity of symptoms and enhance healing. |
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Nutrition |
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- Avoid dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar. Coffee, even
decaffeinated, should be eliminated because of irritating oils.
- Eliminate any known food allergens.
- Include sulphur-containing foods such as garlic, onions, broccoli,
cabbage, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower in the diet. Sulphur is a precursor to
glutathione which provides antioxidant protection to the gastric mucosa.
N-acetylcysteine (200 mg bid between meals) is also a precursor to
glutathione.
- Vitamin C (1,000 mg tid) decreases nitrosamines which are linked to
stomach cancer.
- Zinc (30 to 50 mg/day) enhances healing.
- To treat pernicious anemia: lifelong regular parenteral vitamin B12
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Herbs |
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Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As
with any therapy, it is important to ascertain a diagnosis before pursuing
treatment. Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas),
glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless
otherwise indicated, teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water.
Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for
roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups/day. Tinctures may be used singly or in combination as
noted.
- DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice), 250 mg qid 15 to 20 minutes before
meals and one to two hours after last meal, increases circulation and healing to
gastric mucosa. This preparation has the hypertensive factor in licorice root
removed making it safe to take long-term and in cases of
hypertension.
- Powders of slippery elm (Ulmus fulva) and marshmallow root
(Althea officinalis) may be taken singly or together, 1 tsp. bid to tid,
to decrease inflammation and encourage healing.
- Ginger root tea (Zingiber officinale) is a warming carminative
that increases circulation and enhances digestion. Drink 2 to 3 cups/day with
meals.
- For H. pylori, bismuth subcitrate (120 mg qid for eight weeks)
may be helpful in eradicating H. pylori and reducing recurrence. It is
poorly absorbed, which decreases the likelihood of side effects; however, it is
associated with neurotoxicity if used long-term. Patient may still need
antibiotics if H. pylori has not resolved after eight
weeks.
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Homeopathy |
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An experienced homeopath should assess individual constitutional types and
severity of disease to select correct remedy and potency. Consider three
remedies, Nux vomica, Arsenicum album, and
Lycopodium. |
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Acupuncture |
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Acupuncture may help in reducing stress and improving digestive
function. |
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Massage |
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Therapeutic massage can alleviate stress and increase sense of
well-being. |
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Patient Monitoring |
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Symptomatic individuals must be treated and followed with repeat endoscopy or
gastroscopy if symptoms persist. |
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Other
Considerations |
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Prevention |
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Patients must be advised of the risks of continued alcohol, tobacco, and
NSAID use. A high-fiber diet is recommended to decrease the incidence of
digestive problems. H. pylori should be eradicated in symptomatic
individuals. |
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Complications/Sequelae |
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- Epidemiolgic studies have linked the presence of H. pylori
with the development of gastric cancer (a three- to six-fold increased
risk).
- Chronic gastritis may lead to atrophic gastritis, gastric atrophy,
and gastric metaplasia, which may result in gastric cancer.
- Acid-suppressive therapy alone may indirectly increase the risk of
gastric cancer by increasing the development of gastric atrophy
- GI bleeding may result from advanced mucosal
erosion/ulceration.
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Prognosis |
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If the etiology of the gastritis is properly identified, most cases are
successfully treated. Gastritis resulting from H. pylori infection may
clear initially but require repeated treatment. |
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Pregnancy |
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Do not use bismuth subcitrate in pregnancy. |
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References |
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Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic
Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, Mass: Integrative Medicine
Communications; 1998:427.
Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, et al., eds. Harrison's Principles
of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1998:
941-943,1610-1614.
Murray MT, Pizzorno JE. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. 2nd ed.
Rocklin, Calif: Prima Publishing; 1998:522-523.
Sklar M, ed. Gastoenterologic problems. Clin Geriatr Med.
1991;7:235-238.
Sleisenger MH, Fordtran JS, Scharschmidt BF, et al. Gastrointestinal
Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co;
1993:545-564. |
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Copyright © 2000 Integrative Medicine
Communications This publication contains
information relating to general principles
of medical care that should not in any event be construed as specific
instructions for individual patients. The publisher does not accept any
responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising
from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein,
including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of
product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied,
is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements
are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use.
The reader is advised to check product information (including package inserts)
for changes and new information regarding dosage, precautions, warnings,
interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or
supplement discussed herein. | |