Celiac Gastritis/lymphocytic Gastritis

[Satchel]

My daughter had an endoscopy on which the notes said "localized inflammation characterized by whitish patches found in the middle third of the esophagus." Also "Patchy erythematous mucosa with no bleeding was found in the gastric antrum and in the prepyloric region of the stomach." Biopsies were taken at both sites but nothing was noted by the pathologist, no yeast or bacteria. The report says "Impression: The examination was suspicious for esophagitis. Nonbleeding erythematous gastropathy." I was told she did not have celiac. What I don't know is if they would have recognized white blood cells, eg the lymphocytes coming through the gut. You'd think I would be relieved that she doesn't have celiac, on the other hand, it runs in our family and she does have major problems with acid reflux, last year months of unexplained vomiting, stomach pain.

I found an article by Ranjan et al "Gastritis and Gastropathy of Childhood" J. of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Vol 29:4, Oct. 1999 pp. 378-394 that says "Lymphocytic gastritis has been described relatively recently in celiac disease... it usually occurs in the presence of normal-appearing mucosa at gastroscopy." "...characterized by a striking mononuclear infiltrate (primarily T cells), mainly in the surface and pit epithelium of the antrum and body" ..."Dyspeptic symptoms, such as epigastric pain and vomiting, were significantly more frequent in those celiac-affected children with lymphocytic gastritis than in those without."

I know this is a doctor question but it's hard to reach a person to have this conversation with... hoping this forum has some who can shed a little light on all this.

Thanks.

[ravenwoodglass]

My daughter had an endoscopy on which the notes said "localized inflammation characterized by whitish patches found in the middle third of the esophagus." Also "Patchy erythematous mucosa with no bleeding was found in the gastric antrum and in the prepyloric region of the stomach." Biopsies were taken at both sites but nothing was noted by the pathologist, no yeast or bacteria. The report says "Impression: The examination was suspicious for esophagitis. Nonbleeding erythematous gastropathy." I was told she did not have celiac. What I don't know is if they would have recognized white blood cells, eg the lymphocytes coming through the gut. You'd think I would be relieved that she doesn't have celiac, on the other hand, it runs in our family and she does have major problems with acid reflux, last year months of unexplained vomiting, stomach pain.

I found an article by Ranjan et al "Gastritis and Gastropathy of Childhood" J. of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Vol 29:4, Oct. 1999 pp. 378-394 that says "Lymphocytic gastritis has been described relatively recently in celiac disease... it usually occurs in the presence of normal-appearing mucosa at gastroscopy." "...characterized by a striking mononuclear infiltrate (primarily T cells), mainly in the surface and pit epithelium of the antrum and body" ..."Dyspeptic symptoms, such as epigastric pain and vomiting, were significantly more frequent in those celiac-affected children with lymphocytic gastritis than in those without."

I know this is a doctor question but it's hard to reach a person to have this conversation with... hoping this forum has some who can shed a little light on all this.

Thanks.

Has she found relief with the gluten-free diet? If you haven't tried it with her yet do. I won't go on a long tirade about doctors butttt------- if I trusted them I would still be very, very sick. False negatives are not rare, how many areas did they biopsy? Was it just the abnormal looking spots or did they go all the way into the small intestine and take multiple biopsies all the way to the end? They may have seen the patches and said well theres the problem and not gone any farther.

[yunalesca]

I'm not sure if this is any help but some of the things you mentioned in the report sounded like mine, I first had an endoscopy in 2003 -- basically my doctor told me it was inflammation and the specialist wrote impression: 'body gastritis'.

I had actually been tested for Celiac's Disease but had a negative blood test result, at that stage I was not eating much at all and was seeing a Chinese herbalist - at this stage I had no idea what Celiac's was.

Anyway, two years later I had a blood test while I was sick with Glandular Fever and it came back with positive results for Celiac's Disease and I am now having a second endoscopy in late April to confirm.

My specialist told me they're now testing further down the stomach than they used to previously (when I had my first endoscopy in 2004) and standard is to take about 6 samples now apparently. I think he also said something about onset occurring further down the small intestine where damage may not be evident higher up??

I'm really new to this myself but I think it's a good idea not to count Celiac's out yet, it seems like alot of people have similar experiences of negative results only to be diagnosed at a later stage.