Progression of gastritis at a population level. Comparison of a long-term follow-up with stochastic analysis of cross-sectional data.

The applicability of the stochastic theory was tested by comparing dynamic data obtained from a cross-sectional population sample with the progression of gastritis observed during a long-term follow-up study of subjects with originally normal body mucosa or superficial gastritis. A good fit of the follow-up with the basic stochastic assumptions was observed, and the progression of gastritis during the follow-up study was similar to that obtained by the stochastic analysis of the cross-sectional data.