Autoimmune gastritis: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

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Autoimmune gastritis: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Autoimmune gastritis: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Video: Autoimmune gastritis: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Video: Autoimmune gastritis: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
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Such an inflammatory disease of the stomach as autoimmune gastritis is quite rare, it is detected in only 10% of the population. The disease is genetic in nature and occurs under certain conditions. What exactly - science has not yet been precisely established. It can only be noted that the provoking factors are advanced age and malnutrition. Consider the characteristic symptoms of this disease, its diagnosis and treatment.

How does this pathological process proceed?

autoimmune gastritis
autoimmune gastritis

The human digestive system with such a disease begins to eat itself. In other words, the immune system, by producing specific antibodies, destroys the normal cells that make up the gastric mucosa. This leads to a decrease in the acidity of gastric juice, food ceases to be digested and its decay begins, and useful substances are not absorbed either into the tissues or into the general bloodstream. A person, having eaten, feels quite a strong pain in the lower abdomen. Because of this, he stops eating anything, and after a while, dystrophy and anorexia develop.

Causes of occurrence

For what reason does such a pathology develop in a person? Scientists are inclined to believe that the disorder of immunity is of a hereditary nature of development. In addition, autoimmune gastritis can be caused by an infection that has entered the body, for example, cytomegalovirus, herpes, as well as the most severe Epstein-Barr virus. The causative agent of such an infection is introduced not only into tissues, but also into internal organs, forcing the immune system to destroy the gastrointestinal tract. In any case, the cause of such a disease is established individually.

Symptoms

gastroenterology center
gastroenterology center

Characteristic symptoms of pathology appear as follows:

  • bloating;
  • lethargy and extreme fatigue;
  • bad taste in mouth;
  • loss of appetite;
  • a person notices that his stomach is gurgling;
  • heartburn, belching, mild nausea, constipation or diarrhea;
  • heavy sweating, dizziness;
  • pallor of the skin;
  • thinning nails.

In addition, a clear sign of autoimmune gastritis is nervousness, irritability, emotionality. This is explained by the fact that the body begins to experience a lack of vitamins B12 and B9, resulting in anemia and neurological disorders.

Such symptoms do not occur immediately at the time of the development of the disease and can manifest both jointly andseparately.

Diagnosis

gurgling in the stomach
gurgling in the stomach

In order for the treatment to be effective, it is very important to make an accurate diagnosis in time. In this case, many turn to the gastroenterological center, where the following diagnostic measures are carried out:

  • Fibrogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy. At an early stage of the development of the disease, swelling of the mucosa, its hyperemia, the presence of ulcers and erosions are detected. If the disease has become chronic, the gastric mucosa becomes pale, atrophic, with small areas of degeneration of epithelial cells.
  • X-ray of the stomach, esophagus and duodenum.
  • Immunological blood test, because 30% of patients have autoimmune disorders in other organs.
  • Probing of the stomach, which determines the acidity of the fluid of this organ and the presence of Helicobacter.
  • Performing a polymerase chain reaction to determine the constituent DNA of viruses in fluids and tissues of a patient. In 7.1% of patients with autoimmune gastritis, the presence of the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis, is detected.
  • Ultrasound of the abdominal organs. In 80% of cases, an enlarged liver with a change in its structure is found in patients, in 17% of patients the spleen is enlarged, sometimes enlargement and thickening of peripheral lymph nodes are detected.

Who prescribes the treatment?

Usually, if a patient goes to a gastroenterology center, he is examined and further treated by two specialists - an immunologist and a gastroenterologist.

autoimmune gastritis treatment
autoimmune gastritis treatment

An immunologist determines at what stage of development this disease is and how it is possible to stop further destruction of the gastrointestinal tract.

The gastroenterologist carries out therapeutic measures in relation to the damaged gastric mucosa, prescribes appropriate treatment, which restores the function of the gastrointestinal tract, impaired during the development of the disease.

Treatment method

If autoimmune gastritis is diagnosed, its treatment should be individualized. It depends on the form of the disease, stage of development, severe symptoms and changes that have occurred in other organs. Treatment should be aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease, as well as fighting Helicobacter pylori and viral infection, changes in the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Basic principles of treatment

If autoimmune gastritis is detected, the patient must adhere to a special diet. In this case, cold and hot food should be excluded from the diet, which should be mechanically, thermally and chemically gentle. Spicy, s alty, spicy, fried foods are prohibited. The diet should be protein (including fish, steamed or low-fat boiled meat), containing vitamins and fiber (jelly, cereals, mousses, dairy products, pureed or boiled fruits and vegetables). You can not drink coffee, sweet dishes, cakes, tea, cakes, sweets. Food should only be taken warm.

If sicksuffers from severe pain, the doctor prescribes anticholinergics ("Metacin", "Platifillin"), antispasmodics ("Papaverine", "No-shpa"), as well as drugs aimed at reducing the motor activity of the intestines and stomach ("Cerukal", "Motilium ").

mucous membrane of the stomach
mucous membrane of the stomach

To improve the condition of the gastric mucosa, the following drugs are prescribed: Venter, Bismuth, Plantaglucid, and to reduce acidity - Almagel, Ranitidine and others.

In severe atrophy of the mucosa, substitution therapy is prescribed: "Abomin", "Mezim", "Acidin-pepsin", "Panzinorm", "Pankurmen", preparations that put the intestinal microflora in order, multivitamins.

If the need arises, antimicrobial and antiviral agents should be taken. Phytotherapy, massage, exercise therapy, physiotherapy, reflexology, balneological therapy are carried out only according to indications.

Also, many patients use traditional medicine to alleviate their condition. Some people treat autoimmune gastritis with psyllium juice and natural sea buckthorn oil, but in any case, therapy should only be carried out under medical supervision.

Possible Complications

characteristic symptoms
characteristic symptoms

If the disease is not treated in time, the atrophy of the mucous membrane will only progress, and the symptoms will intensify. As a result, adenocarcinoma may develop. Also, a careless attitude to he alth leads to iron deficiency anemia and polyhypovitaminosis.

Conclusion

Thus, if a person suddenlynotices that gurgling in the stomach, heartburn appears, bad breath and other strange manifestations of the body, then he should see a doctor as soon as possible. Often this indicates the development of autoimmune gastritis, the untimely treatment of which leads to severe complications.