Whipple's disease

Whipple's disease

1. systemic disease

   • GI
   • arthralgia

2. infiltration of tissues by Tropheryma whippelii

   • Gram +ve

3. disordered host response

4. immunocompromised individuals

5. male: female 9:1

6. imaging

   • thickened folds
   • no dilatation
   • no ulceration
   • bulky abdominal nodes
   • sand-like nodules

7. fatal within 1 year if not recognised and treated