Menetrier's disease: an excellent response to octreotide. A case report from the Middle East.

Menetrier's disease is a rare acquired cause of protein losing enteropathy, with premalignant potential. Since its first description in 1888, around 300 cases have been reported. This disease occurs more frequently in males aged 30-50 years. We report here the case of a 31 year- old Sudanese female who presented with generalized edema. Laboratory investigations showed hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia without evidence of renal or liver disease. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed giant gastric folds. The histopathological features of biopsies taken from these folds were consistent with Menetrier's disease. Our patient showed excellent response to treatment with subcutaneous octreotide and this may ameliorate the need for surgery as the definitive treatment of this disease.