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Whipple's Disease: A Case Report

Orkide Kutlu1, Selma Şengiz Erhan2, Yasemin Gökden3

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Okmeydanı Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, orkidekutlu@windowslive.com.

Medical Principles and Practice : International Journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre
|February 15, 2019
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Whipple's disease is a rare, potentially fatal infection. Early diagnosis through histopathology and PCR is crucial, especially in patients with severe malabsorption, even without typical symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Whipple's disease is a rare systemic bacterial infection with a low incidence.
  • Untreated, it can lead to severe malabsorption and potentially fatal outcomes.

Observation:

  • A 49-year-old patient presented with severe malabsorption symptoms.
  • The patient lacked the classic accompanying features often associated with Whipple's disease.

Findings:

  • Diagnosis was confirmed via histopathological examination of small intestine biopsies.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis further supported the diagnosis of Whipple's disease.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider Whipple's disease in the differential diagnosis of severe malabsorption.
  • Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential for patient outcomes, even in atypical presentations.
Keywords:
MalabsorptionTropheryma whippleiWhipple’s disease

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