Whipple’s disease: intestinal inflammation and a somewhat forgotten clinical entity

Abstract:

Whipple’s disease is a rare systemic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei which affects mostly middle-aged white men. Patients present with arthralgia, diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss. Whipple’s disease primarily affects the small intestine, but several organs can simultaneously be involved. The disease is commonly diagnosed by small-bowel biopsy, treatment includes the use of antibiotics. An untreated disease can have a fatal course

Key words:
gastrointestinal symptoms; Tropheryma whipplei; Whipple’s disease