WHIPPLE DISEASE

SUMMARY

1. White, middle-aged men with diarrhea, fat malabsorption/weight loss, CNS symptoms, and recurring episodes of inflammatory arthritis.

2. The diagnosis is made by finding macrophages containing periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive gram positive bacilli in tissue bx.

3. PCR can also be used.

4. Treatment usually requires parenteral antibiotics initially to ensure CNS penetration, followed by oral therapy for few years.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].