Autoimmune Gastritis and Associated Gastrointestinal Disorders
Summary
Autoimmune gastritis is a chronic, immune‐mediated destruction of gastric parietal cells leading to hypochlorhydria, loss of intrinsic factor and subsequent malabsorption of vitamin B12 and iron. The reduction in gastric acidity predisposes to bacterial overgrowth and alters the gut microbiome, while impaired intrinsic factor secretion culminates in pernicious anaemia. Clinically, patients may present with dyspepsia, anaemia, neurological manifestations or remain asymptomatic until late‐stage complications arise. Long‐standing gastric atrophy fosters hypergastrinaemia and enterochromaffin‐like cell hyperplasia, thereby increasing the risk of type I gastric neuroendocrine tumours and, in some cohorts, adenocarcinoma. Autoimmune gastritis often coexists with other organ‐specific autoimmunities, notably thyroid disease, and contributes to a wider spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders through micronutrient deficiencies and altered mucosal immunity. Early recognition and endoscopic surveillance are critical to mitigate progression to neoplastic transformation and to manage nutrient deficiencies effectively.
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Autoimmune Gastritis and Associated Gastrointestinal Disorders publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in autoimmune gastritis and associated gastrointestinal disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Parietal cells: Gastric epithelial cells responsible for secreting hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor.
Intrinsic factor: A glycoprotein produced by parietal cells essential for vitamin B12 absorption in the ileum.
Hypochlorhydria: Reduced gastric acid secretion leading to impaired digestion and altered microbial colonisation.
Pernicious anaemia: A macrocytic anaemia caused by autoimmune destruction of intrinsic factor or parietal cells, resulting in vitamin B12 deficiency.
Autoantibodies: Immunoglobulins directed against self‐antigens, such as parietal-cell or intrinsic-factor antigens, used as diagnostic markers.
References
- Autoimmune conditions and gastric cancer risk in a population-based study in the United Kingdom. British Journal of Cancer (2024).
- Diagnostic criteria and endoscopic and histological findings of autoimmune gastritis in Japan. Journal of Gastroenterology (2023).
- Pernicious Anemia: The Hematological Presentation of a Multifaceted Disorder Caused by Cobalamin Deficiency. Nutrients (2022).
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