Studies on The Red Spots on Gastric Mucosa in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

In the series of endoscopic examinations of the patients with chronic liver disease, I found the specific gastric mucosal changes, named red colored caviar like gastritis (RCC gastritis). The distinctive features of RCC gastritis were as follows: 1 They were the red spots of gastric mucosa having the appearance just like a red colored caviar. 2. These red spots apperared in the gastric area and were surrounded by a fine white reticular pattern separating the areas. This gastritis occured mainly on the fundal gland regions in greater curvature of gastric body. Histological findings of RCC gastritis were as follows: There were dilated vessels, ectasia of capillaries and veins in the red spots. No acute inflammatory changes were observed, at all. RCC gastritis recognized in 29.4% out of 218 patients with liver cirrhosis and 29.1% out of 24 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Mean ICG R15 levels were 29.6% in 45 patients with RCC gastritis and 20.1% in 145 patients without RCC gastritis (statistically significant p<0.01). Percutaneous transhepatic portography was achieved 24 patients in this series. Under the condition of collateral vein routes, they were classified into 3 types. RCC gastritis was recognized at 71.4% in type 1 (paraesophageal route only), 33.3% in type 2 (paraesophageal and other routes), none in type 3 (others except paraesophageal routes). Mean portal vein pressures in patients with RCC gastritis were 362±47mmH_2O and 286±86mmH_2O in without RCC gastritis (p