A 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD WITH MÉNÉTRIER’S DISEASE

Key words: Ménétrier’s disease, Enteropathy, Hypoprotidemia, Child

We report a case of a 3-year-old boy, who presented vomiting and edema for one week. The latter was first localized in the periorbital region and then generalized. Laboratory studies revealed severe hypoproteinemia (total protein: 2.9 g/dl) and CMV infection. Endoscopy showed erythematosus gastric mucosa of body and fundus and biopsies revealed foveolar hyperplasia and morphological evidence of CMV infection. The child was treated with intravenous albumin transfusions that led to complete clinical resolution. Protein- losing enteropathy, hypertrophic gastropathy and CMV infection are typical of Ménétrier’s disease. These childhood forms, in contrast to classic adult Ménétrier’s disease, have a typical benign and transient course, and require only supportive therapy