Auto-immune atrophic gastritis in patient with dermatitis herpetiformis

Seventeen patients with dermatitis herpetiformis were tested for gastric hydrochloric acid secretion. Seven were found to be achlorhydric. Atrophic gastritis in these patients probably had an auto-immune pathogenesis, as judged by elevated serum gastrin level, high prevalence of antibodies against gastric parietal cells and antrum sparing of the gastric atrophy. This type of atrophic gastritis is considered to indicate a precursor state to pernicious anemia.