[A double-faced myocarditis: Whipple's disease or sarcoidosis?].
BACKGROUND
Whipple's disease is a systemic infection that may mimic sarcoidosis in its initial presentation. The heart involvement is not uncommon and consists generally in an endocarditis. Myocarditis is less common and is usually accompanied by impairment of heart conduction.


METHODS
We report a 56-year-old man with Whipple's disease associated with a myocarditis, initially diagnosed as having a sarcoidosis with cardiac injury. The contribution of the histology and molecular biology on intestinal sampling made it possible to rectify the diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of Whipple's disease should be considered in the presence of a systemic granulomatosis with or without heart involvement. Early diagnosis is important because of effectiveness of antibiotic therapy.
Benhamou
Y
Y
Département de médecine interne, CHU de Rouen-Bois-Guillaume, 76031 Rouen cedex, France. ygal.benhamou@chu-rouen.fr
Lachkar
S
S
Cailleux
N
N
Bauer
F
F
Bernet
J
J
Marie
I
I
Lévesque
H
H
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006329:Heart Conduction System; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents