Gastritis--a misused term in clinical gastroenterology

Gastritis is an inflammation in the gastric mucosa. The definition, classification and diagnosis of gastritis is based on morphological changes. The term 'gastritis' is widely used as a catchbag for upper abdominal complaints. Although acute or specific forms of gastritis may present upper abdominal symptoms, chronic gastritis is asymptomatic, and is not the cause of long standing upper abdominal complaints. Chronic gastritis is a very common condition in the general population. Hence the probability of finding chronic gastritis in endoscopic biopsies of patients with upper abdominal complaints is high for statistical reasons, and this does not prove any causal relation between chronic gastritis and subjective complaints. Campylobacter pylori is associated with chronic gastritis. It may activate the inflammatory process in the gastric mucosa, or it may just be an innocent bystander, which subsists within a diseased mucosa. The role of campylobacter pylory in the etiology of non-ulcer dyspepsia or peptic ulcer is questionable.