Korean J Pathol.  1998 Feb;32(2):142-146.

Menetrier's Disease Report of two cases

• Kim JH
• Lee DG
• Juhng SW

Abstract

Menetrier's disease is characterized by enlarged gastric folds with foveolar hyperplasia and cystic dilatation of gastric glands. The additional biochemical features of hypoproteinemia, hypochlorhydria, and increased gastric mucus are often encountered. The pathogenesis and etiologic factors have not been clearly defined. In this report, we present two cases of Menetrier's disease in the stomach, one occurring in a 38-year-old male, associated with massive hematemesis, and the other in a 39-year-old male. Grossly, both cases showed marked giant gastric rugal folds resembling cerebral convolutions, sparing the antral portion. Microscopically, the giant gastric rugal folds consisted of the striking foveolar hyperplasia accompanied by an occasional presence of the smooth muscle fibers from the muscularis mucosa. The immunohistochemical stain revealed an intense positive reaction for transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in the majority of mucous cells throughout the gastric mucosa and parietal cells, but did not reveal for epidermal growth factor (EGF). We suggested that TGF-alpha and EGF-R might be involved in the pathogenesis of Menetrier's disese.

Keyword

Menetrier's disease; Hematemesis; Immunohistochemistry; Pathogenesis

MeSH Terms

Achlorhydria
Adult
Dilatation
Epidermal Growth Factor
Gastric Mucosa
Gastritis, Hypertrophic*
Hematemesis
Humans
Hyperplasia
Hypoproteinemia
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Mucous Membrane
Mucus
Muscle, Smooth
Rabeprazole
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Stomach
Strikes, Employee
Transforming Growth Factor alpha
Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Transforming Growth Factor alpha