Autoimmune gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining caused by the immune system attacking cells in the mucus layer. It can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia.
Symptoms include upper abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, and weight loss. H. pylori bacteria and NSAIDs can make it worse, and stress can trigger symptoms. Treatment includes parenteral vitamin B12 and antacids. Tests include blood tests, X-rays, and biopsies.
Autoimmune gastritis (AG) is inflammation of the stomach lining caused by the body’s immune system attacking and destroying cells in the mucus layer. The body produces antibodies that target the parietal cells of the stomach. Inflammation of the stomach lining causes a vitamin B12 deficiency and can lead to pernicious anaemia. Autoimmune gastritis is treated with parenteral vitamin B12 and antacids to ease the discomfort of excess digestive juices. It’s a rare inherited condition that’s more common among people with another type of autoimmune disease.
Symptoms of autoimmune gastritis usually start with upper abdominal pain and cramping.
The excess digestive enzymes produced by the stomach can lead to diarrhoea. Most people with AG report nausea and a feeling of fullness without eating. Feeling acid in the oesophagus after meals can lead to a lack of appetite and weight loss.
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can worsen some gastritis cases. This bacterium eats away at the stomach’s mucus lining, causing most of the inflammation problems. The H. pylori bacteria is spread from person to person and can cause chronic gastritis if left untreated. Gastritis caused by the H. pylori bacteria can be treated with antibiotics and antacids to relieve pain caused by stomach acid production.
When a person with GA is stressed, the digestive juices in the stomach build up, irritating the inflamed areas. Stress can trigger a return of autoimmune gastritis symptoms. The extensive thinning of the stomach lining causes structural changes in the stomach cell. When these cells replicate, they can become malignant and cause stomach cancer.
Abusing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can lead to an increase in the symptoms of autoimmune gastritis. The chemicals in NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, gradually wear down the stomach’s mucus lining. Reducing the number of NSAIDs taken daily can lead to a reduction in the painful symptoms of gastritis.
Tests to determine the cause of painful gastritis usually start with a blood test for H. pylori bacteria. Your doctor may ask you questions to rule out different causes of gastritis, such as medications or foods that promote the overproduction of stomach acid. Your doctor may order an X-ray of your upper digestive tract to rule out a blockage causing abdominal pain and related discomfort. A biopsy is called when your doctor suspects cancer of the stomach lining.
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