A Case of Type A Gastritis accompanied by Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

A 63-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis complaining of anemia was admitted to our hospital. Peripheral blood examination on admission showed pancytopenia and macrocytic normochromic anemia. Blood chemistry examination demonstrated that high level of gastrin, autoanitibody to parietal cells and intrinsic factor, and low level of Vitamin B₁₂. Pernicious anemia was observed on the bone marrow aspiration material. Endoscopic examination showed only an atrophic gastritis, however metachromasia was not demonstrated by means of Congo-red test. And 24 hour pH monitoring of gastric secretion also revealed continuous prominent low level of its acidity. These findings indicated that this case was a rare type A gastritis with Rheumatoid Arthritis.