[Whipple's disease].
Whipple's disease is characterized by malabsorption, weight loss, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, often preceded by a long period of migrating arthralgias. Instead of the intestine the heart, brain, eyes, lungs or blood vessels may be affected. Whipple's disease is caused by Tropheryma whippelii, a bacillus found inside phagocytes. A specific defect in the immune system of the host appears to play a part. The diagnosis is based on microscopic examination of periodic-acid-Schiff(PAS)-stained slides and on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of affected tissue. Recently a method for culturing T. whippelii was described. Prolonged treatment with cotrimoxazole, preceded or not by two weeks of penicillin and streptomycin, often cures the disease, but relapses do occur.
Zaaijer
H L
HL
Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Universiteit, afd. Medische Microbiologie en Infectiepreventie, Amsterdam.
Savelkoul
P H
PH
Vandenbroucke-Grauls
C M
CM
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001706:Biopsy; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination