Whipple´s disease, a rare malabsorption syndrome of late diagnosis

Abstract

Whipple´s disease is a rare, chronic bacterial illness with multisystemic involvement, caused by Tropheryma whipplei. Due to it´s multiform presentation and rarity it is often misdiagnosed. The standard method concerning diagnosis is the detection of PAS ( periodic acid- Shiff) positive macrophages in affected tissues.Immunohistochemical staining and PCR ( polymerase chain reaction) increase the sensitivity and specificity of conventional methods. Long term antibiotic therapy provides a favourable outcome in the majority of cases. The autors describe a case of a patient with Whipple´s disease in a progressive stage.

Keywords

• Enfermedad de Whipple
• Síndrome de malabsorción
• Tropheryma whipplei