[Duodenal biopsy is the most important examination when diagnosing Whipple's disease]

Whipple's disease is a rare disease caused by the bacteria Tropheryma whipplei. It can present with different disease patterns including arthritis, gastrointestinal symptoms with abdominal pain and diarrhoea, malnutrition, anaemia and neurological symptoms. We present a case of a 71-year-old man who underwent a six-month long, thorough investigation before reaching the right diagnosis. After sufficient treatment the symptoms remitted. Physicians should be vigilant of this differential diagnosis in medical patients who have uncharacteristic symptoms consistent with Whipple's disease.