Whipple's disease Flashcards
1
Q
What?
A
Rare multi-system disorder caused by Tropheryma whippelii infection.
More common in HLA-B27 positive
More common in middle-aged men
2
Q
Features
A
Malabsorption: diarrhoea, weight loss
Large-joint arthralgia
Lymphadenopathy
Skin: hyperpigmentation and photosensitivity
Pleurisy, pericarditis
Neurological symptoms (rare): ophthalmoplegia, dementia, seizures, ataxia, myoclonu
3
Q
Investigation
A
Jejunal biopsy shows deposition of macrophages containing Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) granules
4
Q
Management
A
Guidelines vary: oral co-trimoxazole for a year is thought to have the lowest relapse rate, sometimes preceded by a course of IV penicillin
