Whipple's disease


Whipple's disease is a rare, systemic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei.[1] First described by George Hoyt Whipple in 1907[2] and commonly considered a gastrointestinal disorder, Whipple's disease primarily causes malabsorption but may affect any part of the body including the heart, lungs, brain, joints, and eyes. Weight loss, incomplete breakdown of carbohydrates or fats, and malfunctions of the immune system are common presenting symptoms.[3] When recognized and treated, Whipple's disease can usually be cured; untreated the disease may be fatal.