Follow-up study of chronic gastric erosions.

Chronic gastric erosions were detected with a frequency of 4.4% in 8,468 patients over the six year period from 1971 to 1977. The lesions were usually multiple, chain-like or clustered, along the greater curvature. The age group most often afflicted was the 50-60 year olds, and male predominance were three to one. In one-third of the cases, chronic erosions were found in combination with gastric or duodenal ulceration. Longterm observation of 64 patients over a period of four and a half years revealed no change in the condition in 50%, increase, decrease or complete disappearance of the lesions were found in the remaining 50%. In 10% chain-like multiple erosions developed into a persisting fold in the gastric mucosa. No evidence suggesting that erosive lesions lead to chronic ulceration or development of either polyps or malignancy within 4 1/2 years was recorded, nor was there any association with gastric protein loss.