Abstract
Hyperemic erosive duodenitis was observed in 96 (3.8%) out of 2, 560 patients by duodenofiberscopy. This type of duodenitis showed hyperacidity of gastric juice and were often combined with erosive gastritis as duodenal ulcer does. The duodenitis had slighter dyspeptic symptoms and a higher rate of complication of liver injury than duodenal ulcer. Duodenitis did not seem an important precursor of duodenal ulceration, as only one of 21 patients of duodenitis subsequently developed duodenal ulcer. Electron microscopy demonstrated various alterations from minimum changes of absorptive epithelial cells to gastric metaplasia in the duodenal mucosa of duodenitis. These altered epithelial cells seemed to be resistant to hyperchlorhydria.
