Neurological presentation of Whipple's disease after long-term antibiotic treatment: A case report

Abstract

Introduction: Whipple's disease is a rare systemic infectious disorder caused by Tropheryma whipplei. Case presentation: We report a 68-year-old male with Whipple's disease of the central nervous system following long-term antibiotic therapy and many years after the initial clinical onset. Conclusion: The combination of trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole does not prevent or cure involvement of the central nervous system in all patients with Whipple's disease. If relapse of the central nervous system occurs treatment with meropenem might be a useful alternative. © 2008 Gundling et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.