National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Menetrier disease


Other Names:
Giant hypertrophic gastritis; Giant hypertrophic gastropathy; Gastroenteropathy, protein losing; Giant hypertrophic gastritis; Giant hypertrophic gastropathy; Gastroenteropathy, protein losing; Giant hypertrophy of the gastric mucosa; Hypertrophic gastropathy See More
Categories:
Ménétrier disease is a gastrointestinal condition characterized by overgrowth of the mucous cells (foveola) in the mucous membrane lining the stomach, causing enlarged gastric folds.[1] This leads to excessive mucus production, causing protein loss from the stomach and low or absent levels of stomach acid.[2] Symptoms may include pain in the upper middle region of the stomach, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.[1] The cause of Ménétrier disease is largely not known, although some cases are associated with infection, particularly pediatric cases, which can be caused by CMV infections. Treatment may include medications such as cetuximab and gastrectomy in severe cases.[1][2]
Last updated: 6/1/2016
The symptoms of Ménétrier disease may vary from individual to individual. While some individuals may not experience any symptoms, the most common symptom is pain in the upper middle region of the stomach (epigastric pain). Other symptoms may include:[1][3]
  • Weight loss
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Diarrhea
  • Edema


Last updated: 6/1/2016

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Showing of 22 |
Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Giant hypertrophic gastritis 0005246
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abdominal pain
Pain in stomach
Stomach pain
[ more ] 		0002027
Asthenia 0025406
Helicobacter pylori infection 0005202
Hypoalbuminemia
Low blood albumin
0003073
Hypoproteinemia
Decreased protein levels in blood
0003075
Malnutrition 0004395
Nausea 0002018
Peripheral edema 0012398
Vomiting
Throwing up
0002013
Weight loss 0001824
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Anorexia 0002039
Diarrhea
Watery stool
0002014
Gastroesophageal reflux
Acid reflux
Acid reflux disease
Heartburn
[ more ] 		0002020
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Gastrointestinal bleeding
0002239
Hypochromic microcytic anemia 0004840
Multiple gastric polyps 0004394
Poor appetite
Decreased appetite
0004396
Stomach cancer 0012126
1%-4% of people have these symptoms
Thromboembolism 0001907
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Dilatation
Wider than typical opening or gap
0002617
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
The exact cause of Ménétrier disease is unknown. However, it has been associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in children and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in adults. In addition, some have suggested that overexpression of a type of growth factor called the transforming growth factor-α, which is found in a specific part of the stomach, called the superficial gastric epithelium, might play a role.[4][2]
Last updated: 6/1/2016
No one treatment has proven effective for all patients with Ménétrier disease. In milder cases, treatment may be supportive with a recommended high protein diet to offset loss of protein. Other treatment options for moderate or more severe cases may include: Treatment of underlying CMV/Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection; medications such as Gastric antisecretory agents (protein pump inhibitors), octreotide, and cetuximab; and a gastrectomy.[3]
Last updated: 6/1/2016
The prognosis of Ménétrier disease varies from person to person. Resolution of symptoms may occur in adults with an underlying Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) infection once treatment of the infection occurs. Cases in children may resolve spontaneously or with treatment of the underlying CMV infection.

Although it has been suggested that patients with Ménétrier disease may be at an increased risk of developing stomach cancer; the risk remains uncertain. Studies estimate that between 2% and 15% of individuals with Ménétrier disease may develop stomach cancer in their lifetime. Given this potential, some authors suggest surveillance with annual or biannual endoscopy.[3]
Last updated: 6/1/2016

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
Differential diagnoses include Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (see this term), hypertrophic hypersecretory gastropathy, hypertrophic lymphocytic gastritis, infiltrating neoplasm, polyps, and polyposis syndromes (e.g. juvenile polyposis syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach; see these terms).
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Menetrier disease. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Providing General Support

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Menetrier disease. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • I am an adult woman who has been recently diagnosed with Ménétrier disease.  My symptoms seem to be worsening.  I am seeking information about the symptoms, cause(s), prognosis, genetic association, and treatment.  I am eager to hear from you and appreciate your assistance. See answer


  1. Nicholas J. Talley, John Y. Kao. Menetrier Disease. NORD. 2010; http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/menetrier-disease/. Accessed 6/1/2016.
  2. Ménétrier’s Disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. March 2014; http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/menetriers-disease/Pages/facts.aspx.
  3. Mark Feldman, Pamela J Jensen, MD. Large gastric folds: Hyperplastic and nonhyperplastic gastropathies. UpToDate. April 2016; http://www.uptodate.com/contents/large-gastric-folds-hyperplastic-and-nonhyperplastic-gastropathies?source=see_link.
  4. Chapter 47 - Stomach. Townsend: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 18th ed.. Philadelphia: Saunders, An Imprint of Elsevier; 2007;