Whipple's disease in a patient with longstanding seronegative polyarthritis.
We describe a middle-aged woman with Whipple's disease. She suffered from a seronegative rheumatoid-like polyarthritis for more than 20 years before the diagnosis of Whipple's disease was made. This case shows that arthritis may be a feature of occult Whipple's disease. Without gastrointestinal symptoms, diagnosis is very difficult. Diagnosis is important because treatment can rapidly improve this life-threatening disease.
Vanderschueren
D
D
Arthritis and Metabolic Bone Disease Research Unit, K.U. Leuven, Belgium.
Dequeker
J
J
Geboes
K
K
D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology