Gastroduodenal changes in collagen diseases

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to study macroscopic and microscopic changes occuring in gastric and duodenal mucosa of patients suffering from collagen diseases with gastro-intestinal symptoms and also to show if these changes are due to the disease itself or the side effect of anti inflammatory drugs used in the treatment.We found that changes in the form of gastritis duodenitis, congestion, erosions and ulceration are more common in long standing cases than early discovered cases. Also we showed the presence of thickneing of basement membrane of gastric and duodenal mucosa denoting the presence of immune complex deposition and favouring the role of the collagen process as an etiology for gastro-duodenal changes