Acute Gastritis

Stomach inflammation
Triggered by damage to the gastric mucosa

Exists as acute/chronic

Acute Gastritis
Transient acute inflammatory response to damaged gastric mucosa
* superficial & self-limiting

Symptoms
Epigastric burning
Nausea
Vomiting
Severe:
Severe pain/Haematemesis/Melaena (partially digested blood)/Shock
a/w/ mucosal erosion/ulceration/haemorrhage/acute necrotising gastritis

Aetiology
Mainly chemicals
Alcohol
Smoking
NSAIDs
ChemoTx
Bile reflux

Stress
Hospital
Trauma
Burns

Infections
HSV
CMV

Pathology
Inflammation occurs from:

• Decreased gastric blood flow = compromised mucosal defences
• Decreased bicarbonate production = disrupted protective mucus layer
• Direct epithelium damage

Ix
Mucosa - normal/slightly erythematous
Micro
Oedema
Vascular congestion
Acute inflammatory cells in mucosa (neutrophil polymorphs)
Severe
Erosions
Ulceration
Haemorrhage

Erosions + Haemorrhage = acute erosive gastritis.