No acid, no polys--no "active" gastritis, no dyspepsia. A proposal.

The current dilemma in characterizing non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) is due to the very nature of the term which has forced the dependence for diagnosis primarily on symptomatology and the absence of an ulcer crater as ascertained by radiographs or endoscopy. I propose a new classification which I believe is consistent and well founded, based on the presence of histologic gastritis and acid secretion of the stomach. Four categories are presented: (a) normal histology, (b) "active" gastritis, (c) "inactive" gastritis, and (d) atrophic gastritis with achlorhydria. Acid secretion is present in categories a-c. The classification is dependent on the presence of the "poly" to denote active gastritis, round cells to classify inactive gastritis, and the loss of parietal and chief cells with achlorhydria to define gastric atrophy. I propose that polys and acid, which characterize active gastritis, are necessary for producing dyspepsia and/or gastroduodenal mucosal injury, and provide a rationale for treatment. The accepted causes of active gastritis include acid-peptic disease, Campylobacter pylori, and aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) medication.