Chronic gastritis: prevalence in the French population. CIRIG.

Chronic gastritis (CG) which can be associated with severe complications, is a frequent phenomenon in gastroenterological practice. No data concerning the prevalence of GC are available in France. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of CG on biopsy specimens in the French population. All outpatients coming from different towns of seven French areas and undergoing an upper endoscopy on one or two randomly selected consecutive days were included in the study. A case report form was filled out and 5 biopsy specimens were taken from the fundus and antrum. Pathologists graded the specimens on the basis of Whitehead's classification. Seven hundred and forty-two patients were enrolled by 102 private gastroenterologists. Mean age was 53 years; 52% were males. Endoscopically, the gastric mucosa was abnormal in 53%. Superficial and atrophic CG was diagnosed in 53% of cases. Superficial gastritis was observed in 101 patients (14%), antral chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) in 189 (26%) and fundic CAG in 17 (2%). Patients with CAG were significantly older than the other patients. There were more smokers and heavy alcohol drinkers in the group of CAG patients. Endoscopy and histology were in accordance in only 55.2% of the patients: most cases of CAG were not detected by endoscopy. These results are similar to other studies in European populations. The principal pattern among the various types of gastritis was CAG. The other forms were rare. Autoimmune gastritis was uncommon in this French population (4% of the CAG patients).

Protective effect of theophylline on bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Disorders of the upper respiratory tract, particularly allergic rhinitis are commonly associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The latter may be responsible for chronic cough, a common symptom in patients with allergic rhinitis, which, as previously shown, can be the sole presenting manifestation of bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Theophylline is widely used in patients with asthma for its bronchodilator effect, whereas its action on bronchial reactivity is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of theophylline administration on bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with allergic rhinitis complaining of chronic cough. Fourteen patients were studied. All of them were judged atopic on the basis of positive skin tests to common allergens. During control, spirometry, flow-volume curves and specific airway conductance (SGaw) were measured. Bronchial challenges were then performed with increasing concentrations of carbachol, and dose-response curves were constructed. The concentration of carbachol, which decreased SGaw by 35% from baseline (PD35) was determined by interpolating from the dose-response curve. After control measurements patients received in a randomized, double-blind crossover fashion either theophylline 10 mg/kg/day orally or placebo for 30 days. Measurements were then redone. After a washout period of 8 days the measurements were repeated, and patients received theophylline or placebo for a second period of 30 days. Measurements were again performed at the end of this last study period. During control all patients had normal baseline lung function data and showed marked bronchial hyperresponsiveness, PD35 amounting to 26 +/- 7 micrograms of carbachol (normal value greater than 160 micrograms). No significant changes in PD35 were noted after placebo and washout when compared with control values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)