Chronic Atrophic Gastritis

Because of anti-parietal cell antibodies, patients with atrophic gastritis experience atrophy and loss of parietal cells in their gastric fundus. The image shows increased distance between the individual glands, along with dense lymphoplasmacytic inflammation expanding the lamina propria. Loss of acid-producing parietal cells causes hypochlorhydria, leading to G cell hyperplasia and subsequent hypergastrinemia. Gastrin stimulates neuroendocrine (enterochromaffin-like) cells, leading to neuroendocrine hyperplasia and occasionally carcinoid tumor formation.