[Histological and histochemical changes in stomach mucosa in sick people with iron deficiency anemia (author's transl)]

The stomach mucosa of 33 sick people with iron deficiency anemia was studied by the method of aspiration biopsy. In 73.7% of the cases the authors found a chronic gastritis. The high percentage (48.4%) of chronic gastritis with structural changes of the mucosa (pseudopyloric or intestinal metaplasia) is impressive. The advanced atrophic process is accompanied by the increased production of mucus by the principal cells and a reduction of the hydrochloric acid-producing parietal cells. With the increase of neutral mucopolysaccharides in the mucus an increase of acid mucopolysaccharides and the appearance of sulphated complexes is accompanied. There is a compensatory and protectory reaction of the mucosa towards deeper peptic lesions.