Whipple Disease
Introduction.
Whipple disease is not well understood. It originates with
Tropheryma whipplei, a bacterium that is reliant on human cells for growth and
cannot be cultured apart from human cells. It is unusual in having the smallest
genome among the Actinobacteria.
Summary
- Cause: Tropheryma whipplei
- Microscopy: Gram-positive rods (Actinoacteria)
- Transmission: Endogenous?
- Symptoms: cachexia (wasting), diarrhea, abdominal pain,
arthritis
- Complications: CNS/cardiac involvement, high mortality if
untreated
- Pathogenesis: malabsorption
- Treatment: tetracycline, chloramphenicol
References/Links
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whipples-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20378946#:~:text=Whipple%20disease%20is%20a%20rare,such%20as%20fats%20and%20carbohydrates.
- https://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/Whipple%27s_disease_pathophysiology