Expression of gastric mucin in the stomachs of two patients with Menetrier's disease: an immunohistochemical study.

Menetrier's disease is a rare gastric condition characterized by marked proliferation of the mucosa and variable mucus secretion and achlorhydria. We report, for the first time, minor variations in MUC1-7 distribution in the mucosa of two stomachs from patients with Menetrier's disease, when compared with a normal stomach. All stomachs stained positively for MUC4, 5AC and 6 and showed no or little staining with MUC2 and 3. Thus, Menetrier's disease is characterized by an excess quantity of mucus secretion, but differs little from normal stomachs with regards to the types of mucin produced. The mucins, MUC1-7, are found with variable distribution in different body tissues; MUC4, MUC5AC and MUC6 are typically found in gastric mucosa. Copyright 2003 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd