Intestinal metaplasia is a condition in which stomach cells are being differentiated, i. e. it is the set of small lesions that are after endoscopy and biopsy that are considered precancerous, which have the potential to develop into stomach cancer, this condition does not produce symptoms, but as is associated with infection of the H bacteria. pylori, gastric or intestinal ulcer and gastritis, stomach pain and burns, nausea and dark stools.
Treatment of intestinal metaplasia is not yet well defined, but the gastroenterologist may recommend the use of drugs to reduce the acidity of gastric juice and antibiotics to eliminate H infection. pylori, such as amoxicillin, because in this way it is possible to reduce the changes caused by this condition.
- Intestinal metaplasia does not cause symptoms.
- However.
- Most of the time it is associated with the infection of the H.
- Pylori bacteria.
- Which causes the appearance of gastritis and ulcers in the stomach and intestine.
- And in these cases.
- The signs that can be presented.
- They are:.
Diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia is usually done by chance when your doctor follows other digestive system problems, including cancer, by performing tests such as digestive endoscopy and gastric biopsy.
Biopsy may be done at the time of endoscopy, where your doctor takes a small sample of your stomach, which usually looks like whitish plaques or spots, and sends it to the immunohistochemistry lab, where cell types will be analyzed. Learn more about how endoscopy is performed and how to prepare.
There is not yet a specific treatment for intestinal metaplasia, but treatment to reverse this condition is recommended by a gastroenterologist and consists mainly of reducing symptoms of stomach inflammation, with the use of acidity-lowering medications, such as omeprazole and elimination of H infection. bacteria. pylori by using antibiotics, such as clarithromycin and amoxicillin.
Your doctor may also recommend ascorbic acid-based medications, better known as vitamin C, and dietary supplements that contain antioxidant nutrients, as this can help reduce inflammation and injuries caused by intestinal metaplasia.
In addition, it is very important to have a balanced diet rich in antioxidant foods, which are found in foods that contain beta-meat such as tomato, which help minimize symptoms of gastritis and ulcers, such as vegetables and yogurts. for gastritis and ulcers should be done.
The causes of intestinal metaplasia are still being investigated, however, this condition is likely to be caused by a combination of high-salt and vitamin C-poor eating habits, cigarette use and H infection. Pylori. La predisposition is a major risk factor in the development of this health problem, as people with a family history of stomach cancer are at increased risk of intestinal metaplasia.
In some cases, intestinal metaplasia can also be caused by stomach acid, such as gastritis, the formation of nitrates in the stomach and hypochloride, as these situations damage stomach wall cells. Learn more about hypochloride and how to treat it.
Intestinal metaplasia is not considered a type of cancer, however, it is known for its precancerous lesions, i. e. if it is not reversed it can develop into cancer. The person diagnosed with this condition should be followed by a long-term gastroenterologist to remove H. bacteria. pylori and undergo routine testing to see if intestinal metaplasia lesions recede.
Therefore, it is important not to abandon treatment even if it is prolonged and the recommended regimen should be maintained because this will enable it to reduce the cellular damage of intestinal metaplasia and decrease the chances that this condition will become stomach cancer. .
As gastritis is a risk factor for the development of intestinal metaplasia, learn more about diet to improve gastritis: