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Reversible Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Whipple's Disease
A Villa1, G Nucera, A Kostihova
1U.O. Medicina d'Urgenza e Pronto Soccorso, A. O. Fatebenefratelli, 20123 Milano, Italy.
Case Reports in Pulmonology
|October 20, 2012
Summary
This case study highlights a rare instance of Whipple
Area of Science:
- Internal Medicine
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Whipple's disease is a rare, multisystemic bacterial infection.
- Pulmonary involvement is an uncommon manifestation of Whipple's disease.
- Pulmonary hypertension is not a widely recognized complication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of Whipple's disease presenting with pulmonary hypertension.
- To demonstrate the potential resolution of pulmonary hypertension with antibiotic treatment for Whipple's disease.
Main Methods:
- A case presentation of a 72-year-old woman with symptoms suggestive of Whipple's disease.
- Echocardiography to assess pulmonary artery systolic pressure.
- Treatment with antibiotics for Whipple's disease.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with weight loss, diarrhea, abdominal pain, asthenia, inappetence, and fever.
- Initial echocardiogram revealed severe pulmonary hypertension (95 mmHg).
- Following 40 days of antibiotic therapy, echocardiography showed complete normalization of right ventricular function and pulmonary pressures.
Conclusions:
- Whipple's disease can present with pulmonary hypertension, a finding not commonly associated with the condition.
- Antibiotic therapy for Whipple's disease can lead to complete resolution of associated pulmonary hypertension.
- Increased awareness of this potential complication is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
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