erosive gastritis /irō″siv/ , an inflammatory condition characterized by multiple erosions of the mucous membrane lining the stomach. Nausea, anorexia, pain, and gastric hemorrhage may occur. Acute erosive gastritis involves erosions of the full thickness of the stomach mucosa, usually with some degree of hemorrhaging; it may be either localized or diffuse. Chronic erosive gastritis is a type of chronic gastritis with mild symptoms, characterized by multiple punctate or aphthous ulcers, found by endoscopy. Some patients have nausea and vomiting, but others are symptom free. Complications include perforation, penetration into a surrounding organ, and hemorrhage. The cause may be a reaction to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, a complication of Crohn’s disease or a viral infection, or an unknown factor. Also called varioliform gastritis. See also chemical gastritis, corrosive gastritis.
