Which type of gastritis is most commonly associated with long-term NSAID use?

The most commonly associated type of gastritis with long-term NSAID use is chronic gastritis. Chronic gastritis typically results from prolonged irritation and inflammation of the gastric mucosa, and NSAIDs can contribute to this condition due to their mechanism of action. These medications inhibit the production of prostaglandins, which play a crucial role in maintaining the gastric mucosal barrier and promoting mucus secretion. When this barrier is compromised, it leads to increased susceptibility to irritation from gastric acids, resulting in chronic inflammation and changes to the gastric lining over time.

Chronic gastritis due to NSAID use may manifest as symptoms like abdominal pain, dyspepsia, or nausea, and it can contribute to more serious complications such as peptic ulcers. This contrasts with acute gastritis, which tends to develop suddenly and is generally associated with short-term irritants, while autoimmune gastritis involves an autoimmune response against the stomach lining that is not linked to NSAID use. Atrophic gastritis, while it can develop as a continuation of chronic gastritis, involves more severe degeneration and thinning of the gastric mucosa, often with a different underlying cause. Therefore, the relationship between chronic gastritis and NSAID use is well-established in clinical practice and medical literature.