[Duodenal biopsy is the most important examination when diagnosing Whipple's disease].
Whipple's disease is a rare disease caused by the bacteria Tropheryma whipplei. It can present with different disease patterns including arthritis, gastrointestinal symptoms with abdominal pain and diarrhoea, malnutrition, anaemia and neurological symptoms. We present a case of a 71-year-old man who underwent a six-month long, thorough investigation before reaching the right diagnosis. After sufficient treatment the symptoms remitted. Physicians should be vigilant of this differential diagnosis in medical patients who have uncharacteristic symptoms consistent with Whipple's disease.
Infektionsmedicinsk Afdeling Q, Odense Universitetshospital, Denmark. fredrikkeknudtzen@hotmail.com
Fredrikke Christie
FC
Knudtzen
Christina
C
Schnack
Sigurdur
S
Skarphedinsson
Georg
G
Jørgensen
D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054851:Tropheryma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents