Chronic gastritis and duodenogastric reflux

The histological and histochemical patterns of fundic and antral mucosa were assessed in 36 patients with normal pyloric competence and in 28 patients with duodenogastric reflux (DGR), evidenced by Capper's test. There was a significant increase of antral gastritis with normal fundic mucosa in patients with DGR compared with controls. In contrast, patients with DGR show a fundic gastritis incidence similar to that in age-matched controls. The histochemical studies failed to reveal differences between the two groups with and without DGR. These data confirm previous experiences on the possible role of DGR in the pathogenesis of antral gastritis. However, there is no correlation between duodenogastric reflux and fundic gastritis.