Can be due to either increased aggression/attack on stomach or impaired defences.
Acute - usually due to NSAIDs, alcohol or initial H. pylori infection Chronic - autoimmune (anti-parietal/intrinsic factor), H. pylori, chemical
Helicobacter pylori
- Gram -ve spiral bacterium
- Damages epithelium usually in antrum rather than body
- Glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia