The rheumatologic masks of Whipple’s disease
Medical Review (Med. pregled), 2024, 60(2), 22-26.
R. Gancheva1, At. Koundurdjiev2, L. Marinchev1
1 Clinic of Rheumatology, University Hospital “Sofiamed”, Sofia University Sv. Kl. Ohridski
2 Clinic of Nephrology, University Hospital “Sv. Iv. Rilski”, Medical University – Sofia
Abstract. Whipple’s disease is a rare disease caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. It affects mainly the gastrointestinal tract, but can also mimick rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative spondylarthropathy, and necrotizing vasculitis. The most common symptoms are weight loss, abdominal pain, diarrhea and arthralgias. Whipple’s disease should be included in the differential-diagnostic plan of rheumatologists in cases of abrupt worsening of patients after the initiation of immunosuppressive treatment.
Key words: Whipple’s disease, infection, seronegative arthritis, spondyloarthritis, discitis
Address for correspondence: Rada Gancheva, MD, e-mail: rada_ga@mail.bg