Autoimmune gastritis is a clinically silent condition in the early stages of the disease with no specific symptoms. While the gastroscopic findings of this condition are relatively well defined, colonoscopic findings are not well understood.

A recent study evaluated the prevalence of colonoscopic findings and assessed the factors that might affect these findings.

A retrospective chart review was conducted with 240 patients with autoimmune gastritis. Investigators obtained data regarding colonoscopic findings, serum gastrin and chromogranin A (CgA) levels and gastric histopathological findings. This was compared with 550 patients positive for Helicobacter pylori and gastric atrophy. Control subjects had undergone colonoscopy and gastroscopy with biopsies.

• About 26.6% of patients (n=64) with autoimmune gastritis had colorectal lesions, compared to 6.6% of patients (n=36) in the control group (p<0.001).
• Serum gastrin (OR: 8.59, 95% CI 1.72 to 25.07, p<0.001) and CgA levels (OR: 6.79, 95% CI 0.41 to 27.26, p<0.001) appeared to be the factors that affected the presence of colorectal carcinoma.
• Serum gastrin and CgA levels also predicted the presence of colorectal adenomas.
• Serum gastrin and CgA levels could determine colorectal neoplastic lesions observed in patients.

To conclude, while investigating these patients, levels of serum gastrin and CgA may help clinicians determine colorectal neoplastic lesions.

Source: Kalkan EA, Kalkan C, Gumussoy M, et al. Prevalence and predictors of colonoscopic findings in patients with autoimmune gastritis. J Investig Med. 2022 Jan;70(1):73-78.