Ménétrier’s disease

Ménétrier’s disease

This is an unusual condition characterised by gross hypertro - phy of the gastric mucosal folds, mucus production and hypo - chlorhydria. The condition is premalignant and may present with hypoproteinaemia and anaemia. There is no treatment other than a gastrectomy . The disease seems to be caused by overexpr ession of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF- α ). Like epidermal growth factor (EGF), this peptide also binds to the EGF receptor. The histological features of Ménétrier’s disease may be reproduced in transgenic mice overexpressing TGF- α .