Reply to 'helicobacter pylori vacA as marker for gastric cancer and gastroduodenal diseases: One but not the only factor'

摘要

We thank A. T. B. Abadi and Y. Y. Lee for their letter (1) and note that their unpublished study, like our recent study (2), shows an association between the Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin (vacA) genotype and duodenal ulceration. Unlike us, they show no association with gastric cancer. Unfortunately, they do not say which vacA genotype is associated with duodenal ulcer in their study. Neither do they mention their population characteristics nor any details of their study design, making it difficult to interpret their findings.