What is Whipple's disease?

a rare multi-system disorder caused by Tropheryma whippelii infection

What patient groups is Whipple's disease most common?

common in those who are HLA-B27 positive and in middle-aged men

What are the main clinical features of Whipple's disease?

• malabsorption: diarrhoea, weight loss
• large-joint arthralgia
• lymphadenopathy
• skin: hyperpigmentation and photosensitivity
• pleurisy, pericarditis
• neurological symptoms (rare): ophthalmoplegia, dementia, seizures, ataxia, myoclonus

What would a jejunal biopsy findings be in Whipple's disease?

shows deposition of macrophages containing Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) granules

What is the management of Whipple's disease?

oral co-trimoxazole for a year is thought to have the lowest relapse rate, sometimes preceded by a course of IV penicillin

What is the causative bacteria of Whipple's disease?

Tropheryma whippelii