- Chronic gastritis, by definition, is a
histopathological entity characterized by chronic
inflammation of the stomach mucosa. Gastritis's can
be classified based on the underlying etiologic
agent (eg, Helicobacter pylori, bile reflux,
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs],
autoimmunity, allergic response) and the
histopathological pattern, which may suggest the
etiologic agent and clinical course (eg, H
pylori; associated multifocal atrophic gastritis).
Other classifications are based on the endoscopic
appearance of the gastric mucosa (eg, varioliform
Your stomach a hollow, muscular sac sits in the
upper-left corner of your abdomen, just under your rib cage. The typical
adult stomach is about 10 inches long and can expand to hold about 1
gallon of food and liquid. When your stomach is empty, its tissues fold
in on themselves, a bit like a closed accordion. As your stomach fills
and expands, the folds gradually disappear.
The two main jobs of your stomach are to help process
food and to store food, gradually releasing it into your small
intestine. When food arrives from your esophagus, a muscular ring at the
joining of your esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter)
relaxes to let it in. Your stomach walls, which are lined with layers of
powerful muscles, then begin churning the food, mixing it into smaller
and smaller pieces. At the same time, glands in the wall of your stomach
pump out gastric juices including enzymes and stomach acid. These
juices help break down food further.
Hydrochloric acid is one of many gastric juices your
stomach produces. This helpful but corrosive acid could dissolve your
stomach itself if it weren't for the protective sticky mucus lining your
Gastritis occurs when the normal protective mechanisms in
your stomach are overwhelmed and damage occurs to your stomach lining.
The lining of your stomach then becomes inflamed.
Common causes of gastritis include:
Gastritis may be caused by a common bacterium called Helicobacter
pylori (H. pylori) the same bug that's to blame for
most stomach ulcers. H. pylori lives and multiplies within
the mucous layer that covers and protects the lining of your
stomach. Often, H. pylori causes no problems. But sometimes,
under certain conditions, it can damage the mucous layer and result
in inflammation of your stomach lining gastritis. If bacteria
actually erode the tissue of your stomach lining, an ulcer develops.
H. pylori may be the most common gastrointestinal infection
in the world. Eighty percent of people in developing countries are
infected. Although it's not clear
exactly how H. pylori spreads, it appears to be transmitted
from person to person by close contact. Most people become infected
with H. pylori in childhood, and that infection remains
throughout life unless antibiotics cure it.
Regular use of pain relievers.
Certain medications namely nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) can inflame the lining of your stomach. NSAIDs come in
prescription and over-the-counter forms. Examples of nonprescription
NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen
(Aleve) and ketoprofen (Orudis). These commonly used pain relievers
reduce a protective substance in your stomach called prostaglandin.
Taken infrequently and short-term, NSAIDs usually don't cause many
stomach problems, especially if taken with antacids, food or milk.
However, regular use or overuse may lead to gastritis, as well as
Excessive alcohol use.
Alcohol can irritate and erode the mucous lining of your stomach.
Abusing alcohol can give rise to gastritis.
Cocaine can be damaging to the stomach, leading to stomach bleeding
Severe stress due to major surgery, traumatic injury, burns or
severe infections may produce gastritis, along with ulcers and
One type of gastritis atrophic gastritis can be caused by an
underlying autoimmune disorder in which your immune system attacks
healthy cells in your stomach lining. This causes the lining of your
stomach to gradually thin (atrophy). In turn, your stomach produces
less gastric acid. In addition, cells in your stomach that produce a
substance called intrinsic factor, which helps you absorb vitamin
B-12, may be affected by your immune system. An inability to absorb
vitamin B-12 leads to a condition known as pernicious anemia. Severe
atrophic gastritis and pernicious anemia often coincide and most
commonly occur in older adults. Atrophic gastritis is a chronic form
of gastritis and rarely causes any gastrointestinal symptoms.
This bowel disease causes chronic inflammation of the lining of the
digestive tract infrequently including the stomach (gastritis).
Signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease, an often painful and
debilitating condition, include abdominal pain and watery diarrhea.
Radiation and chemotherapy.
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation may lead to
inflammation of the lining of the stomach, leading to stomach ulcers
Bile reflux disease.
Bile a fluid that helps you digest fats is produced in your
liver and stored in your gallbladder. Your gallbladder is a small
organ on the right side of your abdomen, just beneath your liver.
Bile travels to your small intestine to aid in digestion through
thin tubes collectively referred to as your bile duct. Normally, a
ring-like sphincter muscle (pyloric valve) prevents the backflow of
bile from your small intestine into your stomach. However, if this
valve doesn't work properly, bile can back up into your stomach
causing inflammation (gastritis).
Other, less common forms of gastritis result from more
generalized diseases such as liver or kidney failure.
Risk factors for gastritis include: