Octreotide reduces enteral protein losses in Ménétrier's disease

A 47-yr-old man with Ménétrier's disease presented with profound enteral protein losses documented by 51Cr-albumin stool studies. There was no response to anticholinergics, H2-receptor antagonists, or proton pump inhibition. Subcutaneous octreotide acetate, 100 micrograms bid, resulted in clinical improvement with rapid resolution of enteral protein losses. Octreotide was continued for 12 months. During an additional 5-month follow-up period without therapy, the patient remained improved clinically with low to normal serum proteins, despite the persistence of gastric rugal hypertrophy. The evidence that octreotide resolved enteral protein losses and eliminated the need for urgent gastrectomy in our patient warrants a trial of this drug for other patients with Ménétrier's disease.