Reactive gastropathy is associated with inflammatory conditions throughout the gastrointestinal tract

I. Maguilnik, W. L. Neumann, A. Sonnenberg, R. M. Genta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background The epidemiology of reactive gastropathy and its relationship with other conditions of the gastrointestinal tract associated with NSAID use have not been evaluated. Aims To test the hypothesis that if reactive gastropathy shares common aetiological factors with these conditions, the analysis of a large cohort would unveil associations. Methods We queried a national pathology database for subjects with a diagnosis of reactive gastropathy; controls were patients with normal gastric biopsies. We also extracted diagnoses of H. pylori infection, intestinal metaplasia, duodenal lymphocytosis, duodenitis, ileitis, microscopic colitis and focal colitis. Results Of 504 011 patients with gastric biopsies, 69 101 had oesophageal, 166 134 duodenal, 13 010 ileal and 83 334 colonic biopsies. Reactive gastropathy was diagnosed in 15.6% of patients, H. pylori infection in 10.3% and normal gastric mucosa in 16.3%. Reactive gastropathy was evenly distributed across the US and increased from 2.0% in the first decade of life to >20% in octogenarians. Compared with controls, reactive gastropathy was significantly associated with Barrett's mucosa (OR 1.21 95% CI 1.16-129); duodenitis (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.28-1.44); duodenal intraepithelial lymphocytosis (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.13-1.39); active ileitis (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.47-2.40); focal active colitis (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.33-1.86); and collagenous colitis (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.12-2.03). Conclusions Reactive gastropathy, a common histopathological feature of the stomach, shows an age-dependent rise and is associated with changes of the digestive tract believed to be caused by NSAID use or duodenogastric reflux. However, a large fraction of reactive gastropathy remains unexplained; its frequent occurrence merits further efforts at elucidating its aetiology.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)736-743
Number of pages8
JournalAlimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Volume36
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Reactive gastropathy is associated with inflammatory conditions throughout the gastrointestinal tract'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this