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Whipple’s disease
Definition:
Whipple's disease is a rare condition that causes malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract) due to infection of the intestine.
Alternative Names:
Intestinal lipodystrophy
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
The cause is probably a bacterial infection, Tropheryma whippelii. The disease affects primarily middle-aged white men and the onset of symptoms is usually slow. Without treatment, it may be fatal. Whipple's disease is extremely rare and risk factors are unknown.
Symptoms:


Signs and tests:
Primary tests:
  • Small bowel biopsy showing infection-fighting cells containing bacteria (other body parts can be also be biopsied)
  • Complete blood count (CBC) showing anemia
This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

Treatment:

Patients should receive prolonged antibiotic therapy with a drug that can treat infections of the brain and central nervous system. If symptoms reappear during therapy, patients may require a change in their antibiotic regimen.

Relapses can occur after therapy has been completed, requiring close patient monitoring.

Patients who experience nutritional deficiencies caused by the malabsorption will receive treatment with appropriate dietary supplements.
Expectations (prognosis):
Without treatment, the condition is usually fatal. Treatment improves the chance of a good outcome.
Complications:
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Weight loss
  • Reappearance of symptoms, suggesting drug resistance
Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if there is persistent abdominal pain and diarrhea.

If being treated for Whipple's disease, call if symptoms worsen (or do not improve), if symptoms reappear or if new symptoms develop.
Review Date: 2/1/2001
Reviewed By: Camille Kotton, M.D., Department of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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