Lymphocytic gastritis. Clinical and endoscopic presentation and long-term follow-up.

Lymphocytic gastritis is a histopathological entity corresponding with diffuse varioliform gastritis but also with other gastroscopic findings. Eighteen patients were followed over a mean period of 25 months. The symptoms, the endoscopic and histopathological abnormalities remained unchanged in the majority of the cases. Conventional peptic ulcer therapy failed to control symptoms or to normalize endoscopic alterations. Helicobacter pylori did not seem to play a role in the pathophysiology. Lymphocytic duodenitis was found in four patients. The relationship between lymphocytic gastritis, Ménétrier's disease and coeliac disease has further to be elucidated.