Changes in arterioles of the human gastric mucosa with atrophic gastritis.

Arteriolar changes in the gastric mucosa of 18 patients with atrophic gastritis and of 13 control subjects without atrophic gastritis were investigated using electron microscopy. Irregularly configured smooth muscle cell atrophy with lysosomes and interstitial deposition of highly electron dense material were found in mucosal arterioles of the patients with atrophic gastritis. These findings were similar to the findings seen in patients with hypertension, and animals with experimentally-induced hypertension. Similar, but mild, changes were also noted in mucosal arterioles of control subjects. However, such findings were more common in the aged. These results suggest that the arteriolar changes in the gastric mucosa represent fundamental factors causing atrophic gastritis.