Whipple's disease (patient information)

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

WikiDoc Resources for Whipple's disease (patient information)
Articles
Most recent articles on Whipple's disease (patient information) Most cited articles on Whipple's disease (patient information) Review articles on Whipple's disease (patient information) Articles on Whipple's disease (patient information) in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Whipple's disease (patient information) Images of Whipple's disease (patient information) Photos of Whipple's disease (patient information) Podcasts & MP3s on Whipple's disease (patient information) Videos on Whipple's disease (patient information)
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Whipple's disease (patient information) Bandolier on Whipple's disease (patient information) TRIP on Whipple's disease (patient information)
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Whipple's disease (patient information) at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Whipple's disease (patient information) Clinical Trials on Whipple's disease (patient information) at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Whipple's disease (patient information) NICE Guidance on Whipple's disease (patient information) NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Whipple's disease (patient information) CDC on Whipple's disease (patient information)
Books
Books on Whipple's disease (patient information)
News
Whipple's disease (patient information) in the news Be alerted to news on Whipple's disease (patient information) News trends on Whipple's disease (patient information)
Commentary
Blogs on Whipple's disease (patient information)
Definitions
Definitions of Whipple's disease (patient information)
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Whipple's disease (patient information) Discussion groups on Whipple's disease (patient information) Patient Handouts on Whipple's disease (patient information) Directions to Hospitals Treating Whipple's disease (patient information) Risk calculators and risk factors for Whipple's disease (patient information)
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Whipple's disease (patient information) Causes & Risk Factors for Whipple's disease (patient information) Diagnostic studies for Whipple's disease (patient information) Treatment of Whipple's disease (patient information)
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Whipple's disease (patient information)
International
Whipple's disease (patient information) en Espanol Whipple's disease (patient information) en Francais
Business
Whipple's disease (patient information) in the Marketplace Patents on Whipple's disease (patient information)
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Whipple's disease (patient information)

Editor-in-Chief: Meagan E. Doherty

Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

What is Whipple's disease?

Whipple's disease is a rare condition that prevents the intestine from properly absorbing nutrients. This is called malabsorption.

What are the symptoms of Whipple's disease?

Symptoms usually start slowly, and may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Gray to brown skin color
• Joint pain
• Memory loss
• Mental changes
• Weight loss

What are the causes of Whipple's disease?

Whipple's disease is caused by bacteria named Tropheryma whippelii. It can affect any system of the body, but occurs most often in the small intestine. Lesions appear on the wall of the small intestine and thicken the tissue. The villi—tiny, finger-like protrusions from the wall that help absorb nutrients—are damaged.

Who is at risk for Whipple's disease?

Although risk factors for Whipple's disease are unknown the disorder mainly affects middle-aged white men.

How to know you have Whipple's disease (Diagnosis)?

Possible signs:

• Enlarged lymph glands
• Fatty stools
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Swelling in body tissues (edema)

Tests may include:

• Viewing the intestine with a flexible, lighted tube (enteroscopy), and possibly removing a small amount of intestinal lining (biopsy) to be examined under the microscope
• Complete blood count (CBC)

This disease may also change the results of the following tests:

• Albumin
• Unabsorbed fat in the stools (fecal fat)
• Intestinal absorption of a type of sugar (d-xylose absorption)

When to seek urgent medical care

Call your health care provider if you have persistent abdominal pain and diarrhea.

If you are being treated for Whipple's disease, call your health care provider if:

• Symptoms worsen or do not improve
• Symptoms reappear
• New symptoms develop

Treatment options

You will need to take long-term antibiotics to cure any infections of the brain and central nervous system. A medicine called ceftriaxone is given through a vein (IV). It is followed by an antibiotic (such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) taken by mouth for up to 1 year.

If symptoms come back during antibiotic use, the antibiotic treatment may be changed.

Your health care provider should closely follow you, because signs of the disease can return after you finish therapy. Those who have nutritional deficiencies from malabsorption will also need to take dietary supplements.

Depending on the seriousness of the disease, treatment may also include fluid and electrolyte replacement. Electrolytes are salts and other substances in body fluid that the heart and brain need to function properly. Extra iron, folate, vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium may also be given to help compensate for the vitamins and minerals the body cannot absorb on its own.

Where to find medical care for Whipple's disease

Directions to Hospitals Treating Whipple's disease

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)

Without treatment, the condition is usually fatal. Treatment relieves symptoms and can cure the disease.

Possible Complications

• Nutritional deficiencies
• Symptoms return (which may be because of drug resistance)
• Weight loss