GASTRITIS IN THE JAPANESE STOMACH

Endoscopic studies of Japanese patients with gastritis have revealed t he existence of an endoscopic atrophic border that marks the transitio n between non-atrophic gastritis and atrophic gastritis, and between f undic glands and pyloric glands. Marked changes in cell type, gastriti s activity, atrophy and density of Helicobacter pylori infection occur across this border. Gastritis appears to extend from the antrum to th e corpus more quickly in Japanese patients than in patients from other populations. Infection with H. pylori may be an important factor infl uencing the rate of progression of gastritis in Japanese patients.