LYMPHOCYTIC GASTRITIS - CLINICAL AND ENDOSCOPIC PRESENTATION AND LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP

Lymphocytic gastritis is a histopathological entity corresponding with diffuse varioliform gastritis but also with other gastroscopic findin gs. Eighteen patients were followed over a mean period of 25 months. T he symptoms, the endoscopic and histopathological abnormalities remain ed unchanged in the majority of the cases. Conventional peptic ulcer t herapy failed to control symptoms or to normalize endoscopic alteratio ns. Helicobacter pylori did not seem to play a role in the pathophysio logy. Lymphocytic duodenitis was found in four patients. The relations hip between lymphocytic gastritis, Menetrier's disease and coeliac dis ease has further to be elucidated.