Are atrophic gastritis and atrophic gastric erosion the same?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on January 12, 2025
00:00
00:00

Atrophic gastritis and atrophic gastric erosion do not mean the same thing; atrophic gastric erosion refers to the presence of gastric mucosal erosion based on atrophic gastritis. When atrophic gastritis is accompanied by gastric erosion, it is crucial to actively check for Helicobacter pylori infection. If the Helicobacter pylori infection tests positive, the treatment involves a two-week quadruple therapy that includes bismuth to eradicate Helicobacter pylori, along with medications to protect the gastric mucosa, such as magnesium carbonate, sucralfate, etc., and also some digestive aids. (Please take medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
1min 7sec home-news-image

How to effectively treat atrophic gastritis?

Relatively speaking, atrophic gastritis is much more serious than superficial gastritis. Treatment for this condition primarily depends on whether there is Helicobacter pylori infection. If there is Helicobacter pylori infection, a quadruple therapy is generally adopted to eradicate the bacteria, which can reverse some of the atrophy. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, treatment mainly involves symptomatic relief, such as protecting the gastric mucosa and increasing gastric motility, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine and herbal medicine also have relatively good effects on atrophic gastritis, often employing a comprehensive treatment after differential diagnosis. As for diet, it is recommended to eat light, easily digestible foods, eat at regular times and in small, frequent meals, and avoid stimulants like tobacco and alcohol, as well as raw, greasy, or spicy foods. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
57sec home-news-image

Non-atrophic gastritis with focal erosion treatment

Non-atrophic gastritis with erosive lesions, primarily diagnosed through gastroscopic examination that revealed erosive and other changes in the gastric mucosa. If erosion is detected, doctors generally perform a biopsy under gastroscopy to ascertain the nature of the erosion. If the erosion is inflammatory, it can be treated with oral medications, including acid-suppressing and stomach-protective drugs, promoting gastric motility, and protecting the gastric mucosa. If the erosion involves intestinal metaplasia or atypical hyperplasia, it requires endoscopic APC treatment or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) to eliminate the erosive areas, thereby addressing the erosion fundamentally. Additionally, attention should be paid to a light and easily digestible diet.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
1min 9sec home-news-image

Is atrophic gastritis of the gastric antrum serious?

Atrophic gastritis is a chronic gastric disease characterized by repeated damage to the gastric mucosal epithelium, leading to the atrophy of the intrinsic glands, with or without intestinal metaplasia or pseudopyloric gland metaplasia. The main cause of this disease is infection by Helicobacter pylori. Symptoms primarily include upper abdominal distension, belching, acid reflux, early satiety, nausea, etc. Some patients may experience symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, memory loss, anxiety, and depression. The main treatment involves eradicating Helicobacter pylori, suppressing acid production, and using gastric mucosal protectants and prokinetic agents. The majority of patients have Helicobacter pylori-related gastritis, which after chronic inflammation (chronic non-atrophic gastritis) can lead to atrophic gastritis, followed by intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia, and eventually may progress to gastric cancer.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Zheng Yuan
Gastroenterology
36sec home-news-image

How long does it take to treat atrophic gastritis with erosion?

Atrophic gastritis with erosion is a type of chronic gastritis and has a lengthy course of disease. Through treatment, the erosions may heal within six to eight weeks. However, reversing the atrophy of the gastric mucosa is a long-term and slow process, and there are no specific effective drugs clinically available. Some traditional Chinese medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines may be effective, but it typically takes at least six months. Therefore, the duration required to treat atrophic gastritis with erosion varies from person to person, depending on individual differences.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
49sec home-news-image

Does chronic atrophic gastritis require lifelong medication?

If the patient has lifelong atrophic gastritis, they may need to follow a doctor's advice and take medications that increase mucosal nutrition for life, such as sucralfate, live gastric ketone, prostaglandin E1, etc. The main causes of atrophic gastritis are Helicobacter pylori infection, as well as other factors such as autoimmune mechanisms, genetic factors, and decreased gastric mucosal barrier function. The main symptoms of atrophic gastritis include obscure pain in the upper abdomen, distension, burning pain, along with accompanying symptoms like weight loss and anemia. Treatment for atrophic gastritis involves eradicating Helicobacter pylori and using medications that protect the gastric mucosa.