Abstract

OTERO REGINO, William. The gastroenterologist and chronic gastritis in daily clinical practice. Rev Col Gastroenterol [online]. 2010, vol.25, n.3, pp. 301-305. ISSN 0120-9957.

Chronic gastritis with atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, produced fundamentally by H. pylori, is the principal risk factor for gastric cancer (GC). Despite this, gastroenterologists do not systematically screen patients for GC. Recently a staging system for atrophy and GC has been proposed by the Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment (OLGA). It categorizes stages from 0 to IV. Stages III and IV have the highest levels of risk and merit close attention by physicians. This article reviews the evidence regarding the usefulness of integrating this staging system into daily practice. Based on the results discussed recommendations are made about how to follow up on patients with chronic gastritis.

Keywords : OLGA; chronic gastritis; gastric atrophy; intestinal metaplasia; Helicobacter pylori.