The term "hyperplastic gastritis" in medicine means a special lesion of the mucosa, expressed in its thickening, hypertrophy. Over time, it can lead to the formation of polyps or cysts in the stomach. Often called pathology refers to precancerous conditions. We will tell you more about it later in the article.
Information about hyperplastic gastritis
Chronic hyperplastic gastritis is a lesion of the stomach that is observed quite rarely. A scattered group of diseases based not on the inflammatory process, but on primary hyperplasia (proliferation) of the gastric epithelium is suitable for this definition. Each of these pathologies is not common, in general they make up only 5% of all chronic diseases of the stomach.
By the way, the researchers noticed that the development of hyperplastic gastritis in children in some cases ends with regression and complete restoration of the mucous membrane, and in adults this is not observed, and the development of this disease leads to its atrophy.
The causes of the disease
Hyperplastic gastritis is still not well understood. The reasons for its development include several factors. The main thing is hereditary predisposition. But no less important are:
- malnutrition of the patient;
- the presence of chronic intoxication (for example, with alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction, etc.);
- metabolic disorders in the body and hypovitaminosis.
Of great importance in the development of the described disease, researchers attach food allergies. Allergens that enter the mucosa make it permeable and cause dysplasia (abnormal development) of the epithelium. As a result of all this, a significant loss of protein occurs, which, by the way, is also called as one of the characteristic signs of all types of hyperplastic gastritis.
Some researchers consider it also a manifestation of abnormalities of the stomach or an option for the development of a benign tumor. And it should be noted that all these factors lead to the same result - enhanced reproduction of epithelial cells and its thickening.
Symptoms of the disease
At the beginning of the disease, patients often do not even suspect that they have a pathology. Hyperplastic gastritis appears only after significant changes in the mucosa. And the features of these manifestations are directly related to the form of the disease and the level of acidity.
The most common symptom is pain in the stomach. Depending on the amount of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice, heartburn or belching with a rotten aftertaste in the mouth may occur. Some patients also complain of nausea, vomiting, and flatulence.
Atrophic hyperplastic gastritis: what is it?
One of the varieties of hyperplastic gastritis is the form in which the appearance on the mucosa of the combined areas with hyperplasia (proliferation) and atrophy of the cells. Such a phenomenon leads, as a rule, to the formation of cysts or polyps on the walls of the stomach and is considered the most dangerous, since it contributes to the development of carcinoma.
Like other varieties of gastritis, this one does not have pronounced symptoms. Often it can be detected only with special examinations.
But the pain in the stomach that occurs immediately after eating can be attributed to the manifestations of this pathology. It often has an unstable, paroxysmal character, radiating to the lumbar region or between the shoulder blades. The occurrence of these sensations is most often associated with the use of certain foods.
Often the pain is accompanied by a lack of appetite, belching, increased salivation, nausea and fever. The latter may indicate bleeding that began in the stomach.
The development of erosive hyperplastic gastritis
In some cases, on the mucous membranes of the stomach, against the background of its redness and inflammation, multiple erosions appear. This condition is diagnosed as erosive hyperplastic gastritis.
Its development can provoke both direct contact of the mucosa with any aggressive environment (acid, alkali, chemicals, spoiled foods, etc.), leading to a burn, and chronic violations of secretory processes.
Erosive gastritis is usually lingering and can lead to gastric bleeding, especially dangerous if it occurs immediately across the entire surface of the stomach.
What is antral gastritis
There is also such a thing as antral hyperplastic gastritis.
Antrum is the place where the stomach passes into the intestine, and its main physiological function is to reduce the acid level in the food lump before it moves into the intestine. But a drop in pH also reduces the bactericidal properties that gastric juice possesses . And this, in turn, allows pathogenic bacteria to multiply, and therefore they most often choose exactly the antrum.
How is the diagnosis of the disease
In order to correctly diagnose, the patient is prescribed a differentiated examination, because the signs of all forms of the described disease have similar manifestations with other abdominal pathologies - ulcers, appendicitis, cholecystitis, etc.
Hyperplastic gastritis can only be diagnosed with fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FDS). To carry it out, a special probe with an optical system is inserted into the patient’s esophagus, stomach and duodenum, due to which an image of the internal state of the gastrointestinal tract is sent to the monitor.
The named procedure makes it possible not only to examine the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, but also to take samples for histological or cytological examination.
Auxiliary methods of research include radiography of the stomach, intragastric pH-metry, biochemical analysis of blood, etc. They help to identify complications, supplement the diagnosis and make it more accurate.
Hyperplastic gastritis: treatment
Treatment of hyperplastic gastritis depends on symptomatic manifestations
diseases.
- If the patient has high acidity, he is prescribed antisecretory drugs (proton pump blockers) - Omez, Proxy, Lansoprazole, etc.
- To get rid of heartburn, take enveloping agents (Fosfalugel, Maaloks, Rennie, etc.), which will help protect the mucosa from irritation and have an antibacterial effect.
- Mucosal atrophy requires replacement therapy with natural gastric juice.
- The presence of multiple erosions and the bleeding caused by them requires the use of hemostatic drugs administered by injection - Vikasol, Etamzilat, etc.
- To facilitate digestion, in violation of gastric secretion, enzyme preparations are used (Mezim, Pangrol, Festal, etc.
Nutrition recommendations
In addition, all patients are shown a diet rich in proteins and vitamins. It should be fractional (5-6 times a day), and products that can irritate the mucous membrane are excluded from it. Products are steamed or boiled, chopped well and eat warm.
In some cases (for example, when there is recurrent bleeding or atrophic hyperplastic gastritis is diagnosed), treatment requires surgical intervention. With its help, polyps are removed or a stomach is resected.