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Whipple's disease is a rare disease caused by the bacteria Tropheryma whipplei and affects the bowel. It causes malabsorption primarily but may affect any part of the body including the heart, lungs, brain, joints, and eyes. It interferes with the body's ability to absorb certain nutrients. Whipple's disease causes weight loss, incomplete breakdown of carbohydrates or fats, and malfunctions of the immune system. When recognized and treated, Whipple's disease can usually be cured. Untreated, the disease may be fatal.
It was first described by George Hoyt Whipple in 1907.
Symptoms
- arthritis
- malabsorption
- intestinal lipodystrophy (accumulation of fatty deposits in lymph nodes of the intestine)
- lymphadenopathy
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- fever
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by intestinal biopsy, which shows as PAS-positive macrophage inclusions.
At times, small bowel X-rays may show some thickened folds.
Treatment
Treatment is with penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline or co-trimoxazole for 4-6 months.
References
- Whipple GH. A hitherto undescribed disease characterized anatomically by deposits of fat and fatty acid in the intestinal and mesenteric lymphatic tissues. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp 1907;18:382-93.
External links
"Whipple's disease"