Whipple's Disease

Question 1

What are some symptoms of Whipple’s Disease?

Answer 1

Common symptoms:
- diarrhoea + abdominal pain
- arthralgia
- weight loss

Cardiac: pericarditis, endocarditis, conduction defects
Respiratory: pleurisy
Neurological: seizures, myoclonus, cranial nerve lesions, dementia, confusion, insomnia and cerebellar signs.
Other: lymphadenopathy, fever, skin hyperpigmentation

Question 2

What is the causative agent of Whipple’s Disease?

Answer 2

Tropheryma whipplei (actinomyces - gram positive)

Question 3

How to diagnose Whipple’s?

Answer 3

Biopsy of affected area i.e duodenum

Question 4

What are the findings in Whipple’s?

Answer 4

Infiltration of the lamina propria with periodic acid-Schiff stain (PAS)-positive macrophages –> system infection

Question 5

Treatment for Whipple’s Disease?

Answer 5

Co-trimoxazole (long term)