Total gastrectomy for the treatment of Menetrier’s disease persistent to medical therapy: A case report

BACKGROUND: Menetrier’s disease is a rare hyperproliferative protein-losing gastropathy of the gastric foveolar epithelium. It is characterized by giant hypertrophic folds, excess mucus secretion, decreased acid secretion and hypoproteinemia due to selective loss of serum proteins across the gastric mucosa. The discovery of transforming growth factor-α overexpression opened the way of epidermal growth factor receptor blockade with cetuximab as first-line treatment modality for Menetrier’s disease. CASE REPORT- ETHODS: We present the case of a 46-year-old female patient with Menetrier’s disease. The diagnosis was based on clinical, endoscopic and histological criteria. Two years before the diagnosis of the disease the patient had an episode of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Real time PCR revealed mutation of the gene responsible for coagulation factor II. The patient received anticoagulation therapy and after a period of 6 months a severe anemia due to a gastrointestinal bleeding was presented. The appropriate investigation revealed the presence of Menetrier’s disease. The patient was referred to the surgical clinic with persistence of symptoms such as excessive weight loss, anemia and weakness, even after multiple medical treatment, including the monoclonal antibody against the EGFR receptor. A total gastrectomy was performed and the postoperative course was uneventful. One year follow up showed remarkable improvement of her health status. CONCLUSION: A combination of clinical, laboratory, endoscopic and histopathologic findings is necessary for the diagnosis of this rare disease. Gastrectomy is the treatment of choice for those patients with intractable symptoms and signs refractory to medical therapy.