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Case Reports
. 2021 May:106:41-42.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.053. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Whipple's disease diagnosed in a patient with suspected sarcoidosis

David Totschnig  1 , Tamara Seitz  2 , Alexander Zoufaly  2 , Sabine Hagenauer-Drektraan  2 , Christoph Wenisch  2
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Free article
Case Reports

Whipple's disease diagnosed in a patient with suspected sarcoidosis

David Totschnig et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2021 May.
Free article

Abstract

This paper presents a case of a 51-year-old patient with chronic diarrhea, weight loss, polyarthralgia, and diffuse lymphadenopathy. Laboratory work-up showed anemia, leukocytosis and thrombocytosis, and increased C-reactive protein (CRP). Due to an inconspicuous differential leukocyte count and lymph node biopsy findings showing granulomatous lymphadenopathy, sarcoidosis was initially suspected. Colonoscopy found no abnormalities and duodenal biopsies showed negative Periodic acid-Schiff stains. However, PCR testing on these biopsies revealed Tropheryma whipplei DNA. Further PCR testing of urine and cerebrospinal fluid also revealed T. whipplei DNA. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone for 2 weeks followed by trimethoprim for a year. A rapid improvement of his symptoms was seen.

Keywords: Chronic diarrhea; Lymphadenopathy; PAS Stain; Polyarthralgia; Weight loss; Whipple’s disease.

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