[Erosive duodenitis. Clinical study of 287 cases]

We relate here the results of a retrospective (1984-1987) investigation on 1043 protocols of gastroscopy, where the diagnosis of erosive duodenitis (ED) has been made 372 times in 287 patients. The presence of Campylobacter pylori was not investigated. ED endoscopic incidence was 5.6%. Patients were divided into three groups: 1. ED alone: 15.7%. 2. ED associated with duodenal ulcer (DU): 48.4%. 3. E.D. associated with various diseases: 35.9%. There was a higher male/female ratio in the three groups, and mean ages were similar (50 years). In the group ED alone, the first symptom was nonspecific epigastric pain in 61%; no risk factor appeared, and it did not recur. When associated with DU, ED preceded DU in 8.8% of the cases, followed DU in 18.9%, had the same course in 37.1%, appeared transiently in 2.5%, or during DU healing in 3.7%. The two diseases were unrelated in 28.3% of the cases. Only tobacco seemed to promote the association of DU with ED.