title: Autoimmune gastritis: relationships with anemia and Helicobacter pylori status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is a gastric pathologic condition affecting the mucosa of the fundus and the body and eventually leading to hypo-achlorhydria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report our clinical and pathological experience with AIG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from patients with a diagnosis of AIG seen in the period January 2002-December 2012 were retrieved. Only patients with complete sets of biopsies were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 138 patients were available for analysis. Pernicious anemia was present in 25% of patients, iron deficiency anemia was found in 29.7% of patients, hypothyroidism in 23% of patients, type 1 diabetes in 7.9% of patients, and vitiligo in 2.8% of patients. Parietal cell antibodies were positive in 65% of patients, and no patient had serology positive for celiac disease. All gastric biopsies showed glandular atrophy associated with enterochromaffin-like (ECL)-cells hyperplasia, features limited to the mucosa of the fundus and body, and focal glandular intestinal metaplasia. Helicobacter pylori was negative in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AIG was strongly associated with anemia; atrophy, intestinal metaplasia and ECL hyperplasia in the gastric fundus and body are hallmarks of this condition.
authors.affiliation: a Pathology Section, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine , Spedali Civili and University of Brescia , Brescia , Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villanacci
authors.affiliation: c Department of Medicine , Desio Hospital, Monza and Brianza , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.affiliation: b Gastroenterology Section, 1st Medical Clinic, Spedali Civili and University of Brescia , Brescia , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lanzarotto
authors.affiliation: d Department of Clinical Pathology , Desio Hospital, Monza and Brianza , Italy.
authors.forename: Camillo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Bella
authors.affiliation: e Pathology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine , University of Perugia School of Medicine , Perugia, Perugia , Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sidoni
authors.affiliation: a Pathology Section, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine , Spedali Civili and University of Brescia , Brescia , Italy.
authors.forename: Moris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cadei
authors.affiliation: f Pathology Institute, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti di Trieste , Trieste , Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salviato
authors.affiliation: g Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Sassari , Sassari , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Pina
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dore
authors.affiliation: h Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine , University of Perugia School of Medicine , Perugia , Italy.
authors.forename: Gabrio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bassotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001284:Atrophy; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology; D004759:Enterochromaffin Cells / Q000473:pathology; D019861:Enterochromaffin-like Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005748:Gastric Fundus / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010295:Parietal Cells, Gastric / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies
keywords: Autoimmune gastritis; Helicobacter pylori; duodenal lymphocytosis; endocrine hyperplasia; histology