Autoimmune gastritis. Features of diagnosis and clinical course in children

Abstract

Introduction. Autoimmune atrophic gastritis (AAG) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by inflammation and progressive atrophy of the mucous membrane of the fundus and body of the stomach, while the antrum remains intact for the autoimmune process. The pathogenesis of AAG is determined by the development of atrophic, hyperplastic, and metaplastic changes in the mucous membrane of the stomach body, which is a predictor of the development of neuroendocrine tumors type I. However, among pediatricians and gastroenterologists, there is still no proper alertness regarding the diagnosis of AAG. Clinical examples of complex diagnosis of AAG in children using clinical laboratory, endoscopic, and pathohistological methods are presented. To make a diagnosis, attention should be paid to concomitant autoimmune diseases, characteristic endoscopic and pathomorphological signs, as well as clinical and laboratory changes. The analysis of these changes increases the likelihood of a correct diagnosis of AAG, which is an important aspect of cancer prevention.