Whipple's disease other diagnostic studies

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Bhagyashree Deshmankar M.B.B.S.[2]

Overview

Small bowel biopsy may be helpful in the diagnosis of Whipple's disease. Diagnostic findings of Whipple's disease include, PAS positive inclusions in macrophages of lamina propria. Other diagnostic studies for Whipple's disease include electron microscopy which demonstrate bacteria, immunofluorescent assay to detect antibodies against Tropheryma whipplei and PCR, which demonstrates 16S rRNA gene of Tropheryma whipplei.

Other Diagnostic Studies

• Small bowel biopsy may be helpful in the diagnosis of Whipple's disease. Findings diagnostic of Whipple's disease include:
  • PAS positive inclusions in macrophages of lamina propria
  • All the organs affected by disease may demonstrate PAS positive macrophages like heart, lungs, CNS, eyes, liver, spleen, joints, and bone marrow.

• Other diagnostic studies for Whipple's disease which confirm the diagnosis include:
  • Electron microscopy, which demonstrates:
    • Typical trilamellar membrane of Tropheryma whipplei.
    • Gram positive cell wall structure
  • PCR of affected tissue, which demonstrates:
    • 16S rRNA gene of Tropheryma whipplei

• • Serum immunofluorescent assay, which demonstrates:
    • Antibodies against Tropheryma whipplei