Clinical characteristics and endoscopic findings in autoimmune gastritis – a retrospective study

Gabriella Gabos¹, Valentin Nădășan², Iris Nădășan², Mădălina Petruț¹, Ioana Bernatchi¹, Mădălin Bălășescu³, Carmen Nicolau¹

1. Gastroenterology Department, Lotus Image Medical Center Actamedica SRL, Targu Mures, Romania
2. George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania
3. Intensive Care Unit, Mureș County Clinical Hospital, Targu Mures, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2023-0012

Objectives: Autoimmune gastritis (AG) is a rare condition that increases the risk of developing stomach adenocarcinomas or carcinoid tumours. The objectives of the present research were to summarise the clinical traits of AG patients, together with gastroscopic and histopathologic findings, demographic data, and hematologic characteristics.
Patients and methods: A medical centre assessed 58 AG patients from January 2019 to December 2022.
Results: The majority of the patients were female (73.7%), and the mean age of the participants at the time of the diagnosis was 57.7 ± 12.1 years. We identified pernicious anaemia (54.4%), iron deficiency anaemia (21.1%), as well as autoimmune disorders (96.5%). Though 78.9% of patients reported having gastrointestinal symptoms, 69% presented exclusively upper gastrointestinal symptoms, 17% only had lower, and 14% had concurrent upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms. All 58 AG patients were examined for associated gastric lesions, although abnormal injuries were detected in only 22 of them. One patient (1.8%) had adenocarcinoma, while five patients (8.8%) had type 1 neuroendocrine tumours (NET). In addition, hyperplastic polyps were found in 16 (28.1%) individuals.
Conclusions: Other autoimmune diseases were present with AG, which showed a female predominance. Clinicians should give AG more significant thought by allowing access to interdisciplinary teams.