La gastrite: Pathogenèse, évolution et avenir

H. pylori is the most prevalent chronic infection worldwide and the major cause of gastritis. It is pathogenetically linked to peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and primary gastric lymphoma (MALT). As its prevalence is decreasing in developed countries with a parallel decline of its complications, the incidence of gastro-esophageal reflux-associated diseases is increasing dramatically: inflammation and metaplasia of the gastric cardia, Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma of the junctional region. The mechanisms of this shift are the main focus of current research efforts aimed at elucidating the pathogenesis of gastro-esophageal disease. This article reviews our current understanding of H. pylori - related conditions including the pathogenesis of atrophic and non-atrophic gastritis, and discusses a few of the possible future developments in this domain.