Gastritis in the Japanese stomach.

Endoscopic studies of Japanese patients with gastritis have revealed the existence of an endoscopic atrophic border that marks the transition between non-atrophic gastritis and atrophic gastritis, and between fundic glands and pyloric glands. Marked changes in cell type, gastritis activity, atrophy and density of Helicobacter pylori infection occur across this border. Gastritis appears to extend from the antrum to the corpus more quickly in Japanese patients than in patients from other populations. Infection with H. pylori may be an important factor influencing the rate of progression of gastritis in Japanese patients.