Autoantibodies in simple atrophic gastritis

The authors have examined a group of 47 patients who had been found to have chronic gastritis, in nine superficial and in 38 atrophic. Patients with pernicious anaemia were excluded and in only two was there a doubtful family history of pernicious anaemia. A relatively high incidence of autoantibodies to the parietal cells of the stomach was found. In no case, however, were there antibodies to intrinsic factor, though these were detected in nearly 60% of patients with pernicious anaemia. Interesting correlations were found between the parietal cell antibodies and such factors as the degree of loss of parietal cells, the severity of the gastric secretory defect, and the presence of thyroid antibodies.