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Whipple disease presenting as posterior uveitis without prominent gastrointestinal symptoms
J K Nishimura1, B E Cook, J M Pach
1Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Purpose:
To describe the clinical presentation and course of Whipple disease in an adult.
Methods:
A 34-year-old man with phthisis bulbi in the right eye secondary to uveitis-induced neovascular glaucoma presented with severe acute posterior uveitis in the left eye. He underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and jejunal biopsy for evaluation of anemia. The posterior uveitis was treated with a subtenon injection of triamcinolone.
Result:
The diagnosis of Whipple disease was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of the jejunal biopsy that demonstrated Tropheryma whippelii rDNA.
Conclusion:
Although Whipple disease is typically evident with malabsorption, it can also present as uveitis without prominent gastrointestinal symptoms.