Figure 4.

Association between the type of serological response (I/II) and the findings in histology analysing H. pylori positive cases. The presence of an immune response against H. pylori virulence factors CagA/VacA indicates a type I infection, and these are defined as the high-risk group. The chronicity and activity are categorized as mild, moderate, and severe. Most severe lesions are categorized as absent, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, ulcer, and gastric cancer according to histology. The proportion of type I immune response increases with higher degrees of chronicity and activity of gastritis (p = 0.02 and p < 0.01, resp.). There is a significant increase in the portion of type I immune response if signs of advanced pathology are present in histology (p < 0.01).