[The etiopathogenetic and therapeutic correlations in chronic gastritis]

Haot et al. described in 1985 a new histopathologic entity, the lymphocytic gastritis, characterised by large number of intraepithelial T cells. The condition is usually symptomatic and related to an endoscopic form of gastropathy; it has an easily recognizable histology. According to The Sydney System it is classified as a special form; no etiopathogenic relation is established. The clinical significance and treatment are currently unclear. In one case, affected by peripheric T cell disfunction, there was significant clinical, endoscopic and histologic improvement after vagotomy, hemigastrectomy and total duodenal diversion. The possible favorable effect of surgery on lymphocytic gastritis, a diffuse gastric pathology, is discussed. To our knowledge this has not been reported before.