CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-ASSOCIATED MENETRIERS-DISEASE IN ADULTS - DEMONSTRATION BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION (PCR)

Menetrier's disease (MD) is a rare form of hypertrophic or hyperplasti c gastropathy characterized by conspicuous thickening of the gastric m ucosal folds and foveolar (crypt) hyperplasia. We examined the presenc e of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in 2 cases of MD in adults, one associated with gastric carcinoma, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Non e of the cases showed intranuclear inclusions consistent with CMV infe ction. Both revealed, besides the features of MD, a peculiar pattern o f <<chronic active plasmacellular gastritis>>. Although the samples ha d been-stored in formalin for more than 10 years CMV-DNA was recovered with good yield from both samples. The demonstration of CMV in MD in adults may helps to explain present knowledge of the complex relations hips between this virus and gastric mucosa, and strongly suggests a pa thogenetic role of the virus with variable phenotypic expression along the years.