[Spontaneous course of chronic gastritis in corpus and antrum--is there a regression?]

In 148 patients (medium of 59, 1 years) we investigated the natural history of chronic gastritis within 1-7 years (average of 5.9 years). We performed two biopsies, but in 35 cases 3 or 4 biopsies. In most patients the histological picture was not changed. In superficial gastritis of the body we observed a regression more often than a progression. Regression of atrophic gastritis was see in body and antrum. The rate of regression was higher in cases with 3 or 4 biopsies and with a longer interval of observation. The frequency of regression was higher than awaited according to simultaneous biopsies (criticism of method). There was no difference of rate of regression in various age groups and in various diagnosis (gastric or duodenal ulcer). In gastritis Type B the regression was more seldom than in gastritis Type a or type AB. For spontaneous regression no cause was found.