title: Whipple's disease in a female with impaired cell-mediated immunity unresponsive to co-trimoxazole and levamisole therapy.
abstract: A case of Whipple's disease in a female is described. Malabsorption of iron, vitamin B12, folic acid and fat was present. These abnormalities reverted to normal after introduction of co-trimoxazole therapy. The patient's humoral immune system was normal, in contrast to impairment of cell-mediated immunity, which has not improved in spite of co-trimoxazole treatment for 2 years, and a therapeutic trial of levamisole. These findings are further evidence that there may be a primary immune deficiency in patients with Whipple's disease.
mesh_terms: D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007422:Intestines / Q000503:physiopathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology; D007978:Levamisole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D007978:Levamisole; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole