Publicação
Whipples Disease: A Rare Cause of Malabsorption Syndrome
| Resumo: | Introduction: Whipples disease is a rare, chronic, systemic disease caused by the actinomycete Tropheryma whipplei. Clinical manifestations vary widely depending on the affected system, the most common being the digestive tract. Case Presentation: The authors report the case of a 52-year-old man with malabsorption syndrome, diarrhea, marked weight loss, melanoderma, and visual and proprioception disorders. Periodic acid-Schiff staining of a proximal small bowel biopsy and peripheral-blood PCR identification of T. whipplei confirmed the disease. The patient was initially treated with intravenous ceftriaxone, followed by oral trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole with significant clinical improvement. Conclusions: This case is reported due to its rarity and the diagnostic challenge it presents. Although uncommon, Whipples disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis of malabsorption syndrome due to its systemic impact and possible treatment with targeted antibiotic therapy. |
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| Autores principais: | Cardoso,Joana |
| Outros Autores: | Gomes,Lídia; Santos,Sandra; Moreira,Hélder; Gomes,Paula; Rua,João; Fortuna,Jorge |
| Assunto: | Whipples disease Tropheryma whipplei Periodic acid-Schiff |
| Ano: | 2020 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | relatório |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | SciELO Portugal |
| Resumo: | Introduction: Whipples disease is a rare, chronic, systemic disease caused by the actinomycete Tropheryma whipplei. Clinical manifestations vary widely depending on the affected system, the most common being the digestive tract. Case Presentation: The authors report the case of a 52-year-old man with malabsorption syndrome, diarrhea, marked weight loss, melanoderma, and visual and proprioception disorders. Periodic acid-Schiff staining of a proximal small bowel biopsy and peripheral-blood PCR identification of T. whipplei confirmed the disease. The patient was initially treated with intravenous ceftriaxone, followed by oral trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole with significant clinical improvement. Conclusions: This case is reported due to its rarity and the diagnostic challenge it presents. Although uncommon, Whipples disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis of malabsorption syndrome due to its systemic impact and possible treatment with targeted antibiotic therapy. |
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