[Whipple's disease--a rare and severe systemic infection]

Whipple's disease is a very rare systemic infection caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. If untreated it can be fatal. Approximately one thousand infections caused by this microorganism have been reported globally. Our two patients with Whipple's disease suffered from weight loss, diarrhea and abdominal pain and distention, and were diagnosed with microcytic anemia and significant hypoalbuminemia. In the third patient the manifestation was blood culture negative endocarditis causing aortic insufficiency, atrial fibrillation and coronary embolisation. Antimicrobial drug therapy was effective for all three patients.