Whipple's disease: a difficult diagnosis?
We present 3 patients with Whipple's disease all characterized by a longstanding prodromal period with progressive weight loss, diarrhoea, lymphadenitis and arthralgia or arthritis. Sarcoid-like Whipple's disease was diagnosed in one patient. He was treated with antibiotics. Initially his condition improved; however, a cerebral relapse developed which was treated successfully by ceftriaxone and cefixime. Extraintestinal Whipple's disease (lymph node localisation) was diagnosed in another patient treated successfully with antibiotics. A third case of Whipple's disease was unexpectedly diagnosed by laparotomy and partial small bowel resection. He was not treated till 2 years later with tetracycline. After 1 year of treatment his condition had improved.
Peters
F P
FP
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Maastricht, Netherlands.
Elbrecht
E A
EA
Wouters
R S
RS
Engels
L G
LG
Stockbrügger
R W
RW
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents