Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Disease

Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Disease

Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Disease

On this page

Gastritis Overview - Stomach Lining Storms

  • Inflammation of gastric mucosa; imbalance between mucosal protective & aggressive factors.
  • Acute Gastritis: Sudden onset, often transient. Causes: NSAIDs, alcohol, H. pylori, stress (burns, trauma).
  • Chronic Gastritis: Persistent inflammation. Main types:
    • Type A (Autoimmune): Fundus/body; anti-parietal cell Abs; pernicious anemia. 📌 Autoimmune = Achlorhydria, Anemia.
    • Type B (Bacterial): Antrum; H. pylori infection (most common).
    • Type C (Chemical): NSAIDs, bile reflux. Acute gastritis with neutrophils

H. pylori is the most common cause of chronic gastritis and is strongly associated with peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, and MALT lymphoma.

Acute Gastritis & Erosions - Sudden Mucosal Mayhem

  • Acute inflammation of gastric mucosa, often transient, due to breakdown of protective barriers.
  • Key Causes:
    • NSAIDs (↓ prostaglandins 📌), alcohol, bile reflux, chemotherapy.
    • Severe stress: Curling's ulcer (extensive burns), Cushing's ulcer (CNS trauma/surgery).
    • H. pylori (initial infection phase).
  • Pathology: Neutrophilic infiltrate in lamina propria, edema, hyperemia. Erosions (superficial defects not breaching muscularis mucosae), potential hemorrhage. Acute gastritis with neutrophils and superficial erosions
  • Clinical: Epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting. Hematemesis ("coffee-ground"), melena. Often self-limiting.

⭐ NSAID-induced gastritis is a leading cause of acute gastric erosions and upper GI bleeding.

Chronic Gastritis Deep Dive - Persistent Parietal Pain

  • Persistent gastric mucosal inflammation. Main types:
    • Type B (H. pylori): Most common; antrum. Patho: Urease, CagA, VacA → inflammation. Risks: Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD), MALT Lymphoma, AdenoCa.
    • Type A (Autoimmune): Corpus/fundus. Patho: Anti-parietal cell/IF Abs → achlorhydria, ↓Intrinsic Factor (B12 def.), ↑gastrin. Risks: Pernicious anemia, carcinoid tumors, AdenoCa.
  • Others: NSAIDs, bile reflux, Crohn's disease, eosinophilic gastritis.
  • Clinical: Often asymptomatic; dyspepsia, epigastric pain. Weight loss or alarm symptoms warrant investigation.
  • Dx: Endoscopy + Biopsy (gold standard). H. pylori tests (UBT, SAT). Serum gastrin/Abs for Type A.
  • Progression: Atrophy → Intestinal Metaplasia → Dysplasia → Gastric Cancer.

H. pylori is a WHO Class I carcinogen for gastric adenocarcinoma.

H. pylori vs Autoimmune Gastritis Comparison

Peptic Ulcer Disease - Ulcer Underpinnings Unveiled

  • Def: Mucosal breach >0.5 cm, through muscularis mucosae.
  • Sites: Duodenum (1st part, anterior) > Stomach (lesser curve, antrum).
  • Etiology: Imbalance: Aggressive (acid, pepsin, H. pylori) vs. Protective (mucus, PGs).
    • H. pylori (major cause).
    • NSAIDs (↓PGs).
    • Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
    • Stress: Cushing's (↑ICP), Curling's (burns).
  • Types & Symptoms:
    • Duodenal (DU): Pain ↓ with food. 📌 "DUde, give me food".
    • Gastric (GU): Pain ↑ with food.
  • Complications: Bleeding (most common), perforation, penetration, GOO.
  • Diagnosis: Endoscopy + biopsy (GU for malignancy, H. pylori).

    ⭐ Duodenal ulcers are almost never malignant; gastric ulcers always need biopsy. Awaited by planner

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • H. pylori is the primary cause of chronic gastritis, PUD, and gastric MALT lymphoma.
  • Autoimmune gastritis targets parietal cells, leading to achlorhydria and pernicious anemia.
  • NSAIDs induce acute gastritis and PUD by inhibiting protective prostaglandins.
  • Duodenal ulcers are more common and typically benign; gastric ulcers can harbor malignancy.
  • Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (gastrinoma) causes multiple, severe, and often distal duodenal ulcers.
  • Key PUD complications: hemorrhage, perforation (free air), gastric outlet obstruction.

Practice Questions: Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Disease

Test your understanding with these related questions

What is the treatment of choice in duodenal ulcer without any complications of hemorrhage?

1 of 5

Flashcards: Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Disease

1/10

Gastric _____ (erosion or ulcer) involves loss of the mucosal layer only

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Gastric _____ (erosion or ulcer) involves loss of the mucosal layer only

erosion

browseSpaceflip

Enjoying this lesson?

Get full access to all lessons, practice questions, and more.

Start Your Free Trial