[Antibodies against gastric parietal cells in gastritis (author's transl)]

Antibodies directed against gastric parietal cells were investigated in the serum and gastric mucosa of 45 patients with gastritis, and the results were compared with those of standard histological examination and direct immunofluorescence studies on biopsy specimens. It was confirmed that the antibodies were more frequently found in the serum of patients with gastric atrophy (12/19) than in that of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (6/13) or chronic superficial gastritis (2/13). In 8 cases of globulin material was detected by direct immunofluorescence test in the parietal cells of gastric mucosa sections. The tole of these auto-antibodies in the pathogenesis of gastritis is discussed.