An unusual association of Ménétrier's disease with a gastric bezoar

Karan Manoj Anandpara1, Yashant Aswani1, Priya Hira1

  • 1Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

BMJ Case Reports
|February 18, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Ménétrier

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Ménétrier's disease is a rare hypertrophic gastroenteropathy characterized by protein loss.
  • Potential causes include infections, hormonal, congenital, dietary, and neurogenic factors, though its etiology remains unclear.

Observation:

  • A 14-year-old boy presented with symptoms of epigastric discomfort, vomiting, failure to gain weight, and pedal edema.
  • Investigations revealed hypoproteinemia, normal proteinuria, and elevated fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin, indicating protein-losing enteropathy.
  • Gastric imaging and endoscopy showed cerebriform folds, characteristic of Ménétrier's disease.

Findings:

  • Infective, hormonal, and neurogenic causes were excluded in this patient.
  • The patient had a history of pica and a large gastric bezoar, which was surgically removed.
  • This case presents a rare association between Ménétrier's disease and a gastric bezoar.

Implications:

  • This case suggests a potential role for gastric bezoars as an irritant factor in the pathogenesis of Ménétrier's disease.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the link between bezoars and this rare condition.

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