Helicobacter pylori Antibody Titer and Gastric Cancer Screening

Figure 2

Time course of changes of the H. pylori antibody titer in H. pylori-infected subjects with progression of mucosal atrophy (Grade C in the ABC method). In Group C, the antibody titer does not change significantly (in contrast to the pattern in most Group B cases). However, in a subset of Group C cases, the antibody titer of H. pylori decreases gradually due to shrinkage of the effective area of the gastric mucosa as a result of the progressive atrophy induced by H. pylori infection. Thus, Group C subjects with low-positive H. pylori IgG titers exhibit an elevated risk for intestinal-type gastric cancer.