Similarities and differences between seronegative and seropositive patients with autoimmune gastritis

Objective:The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the similarities and differences between anti-parietal cell antibody positive (APCA+) and negative (APCA-) patients diagnosed with autoimmune gastritis (AIG) and to analyze the similarities and differences between APCA+ and APCA– patients in terms of patients' demographic data (such as age, gender), symptoms, concomitant autoimmune diseases, serum gastrin level, serum anti TPO level, Hb levels, ferritin, vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels. Besides, the secondary aim of the study is; to examine the relationship between APCA positivity with other autoimmune diseases and gastric carcinoid tumor in patients diagnosed with AIG. Materials and Methods: The patient group includes 330 histopathologically diagnosed autoimmune gastritis patients who applied to Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Internal Medicine/ Gastroenterology Department. Scope of work; Age, gender, symptoms, demographic data, gastrin level, serum anti-TPO level, Hb levels, ferritin, B12, vitamin D levels and development of carcinoid tumors of APCA+ and APCA- patients diagnosed with OIG tumors were compared. Results: APCA positivity was detected in 275 of the patients and the prevalence of APCA positivity was 83.3%. It was found that there was no statistically significant relationship between the presence of carcinoid tumor in the patient group and the status of being APCA- or APCA+, and the presence of carcinoid tumor did not differ statistically according to the status of being APCA- or APCA+. It was determined that there was no difference in ferritin, vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels in both APCA- and APCA+ patients with AIG. It was determined that there was no statistically significant relationship between the status of APCA- (n = 55) and APCA + (n = 275) and the presence of concomitant autoimmune disease in patients with AIG. The mean gastrin level of APCA+ patients was significantly higher than the mean gastrin level of APCA- patients (1132 pg/mL vs 3057 pg/mL, P=0.002), and likewise, it was determined that the mean serum anti-TPO level of patients with APCA+ was significantly higher than the mean serum anti-TPO level of patients with APCA–. 4 (251 IU/ml vs 182 IU/ms, P=0.046). On the other hand, no significant difference was found in Hb level in APCA– and APCA+ patients. Conclusion: It was determined that there was no difference between APCA+ and APCA– patients with AIG in terms of ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D deficiency, symptoms, Hb level and the presence of concomitant autoimmune diseases. However, APCA positivity in patients with AIG; It has been shown that it increases gastrin level and serum anti-TPO level. Keywords: Autoimmune Gastritis, Ferritin, Vitamin D, Comorbid Autoimmune Disease, Carcinoid Tumor