Whipple's disease

Abstract

Whipple's disease (WD) is one of rare chronic systemic diseases of infectious etiology. The causative agent of WD - Tropheryma whipplei (TW) - belongs to the ubiquitous bacteria-commensals. Primary infection occurs asymptomatically or in the form of one of the acute forms (gastroenteritis, pneumonia, etc.). If there is a certain immunological defect after a long period of TW-persistence, local chronic forms develop or generalization occurs with the damage to the musculoskeletal system, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, etc. An important role in the diagnosis of WDis assigned to the morphological study of the small intestine mucosa and PCR. The basis of treatment is 2-4-week course of ceftriaxone or meropen-em followed by a long (at least 1 year) intake of co-trimoxazole or doxycycline with hydroxychloroquine. The prognosis of the WD is favorable in most cases.