title: [Dementia in Whipple's disease?: relevance of infectious etiologies].
abstract: METHODS
  A 69-year old patient who had been treated for joint pain over a long time was admitted because of weight loss and dementia. He was confused and cachectic with edema and skin hyperpigmentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory findings indicated chronic infection. Duodenal biopsy revealed Whipple's disease. The PCR of cerebrospinal fluid for Tropheryma whipplei was negative.
  
  
  METHODS
  During treatment with ceftriaxon and intravenous fluid therapy the patient's mental state improved. However his motoric state remained insufficient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whipple's disease should be considered in dementia, even more in previous "rheumatic symptoms", in order to avoid ineffective (immunosuppressive) treatment with unfortunate consequences.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik I, Klinikum am Steinenberg, Reutlingen.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banzhaf
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Klarl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Braun
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014463:Ultrasonography; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination