title: [Whipple's disease in an elderly patient with a substantial weight loss and gastrointestinal symptoms].
abstract: Whipple's disease is a multisystemic infection with Tropheryma whipplei often characterised by its gastrointestinal involvement. However, due to the broad spectrum of unspecific symptoms, the diagnosis is often delayed. We report a case of a 70 year-old-man, who presented with extensive weight loss and lymphadenopathy. The diagnosis of Whipple's disease was made 18 months later on a duodenal biopsy. Retrospectively, it was discovered that a mesenterial biopsy taken earlier also revealed signs of Whipple's disease. Clinicians and pathologists need to be aware of this very rare and potentially fatal disease.
authors.affiliation: Patologisk Institut, Regionshospitalet Randers, Skovlyvej 1, 8930 Randers NØ. marie_bjoedstrup@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marie Bjødstrup
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stawowy
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Christiansen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001201:Ascites / Q000382:microbiology; D003248:Constipation / Q000382:microbiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054851:Tropheryma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015431:Weight Loss; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents