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Cappellini A, Minerba P, Maimaris S, Biagi F. Whipple's disease: A rare disease that can be spotted by many doctors. Eur J Intern Med 2024; 121:25-29. [PMID: 38105122 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Whipple's disease, an extremely rare, chronic infection caused by Tropheryma whipplei, an actinobacterium ubiquitously present in the environment, is a multisystemic condition that can affect several organs. Therefore, Whipple's disease should always be considered by physicians working across various branches of medicine, including internal medicine, rheumatology, infectious diseases, gastroenterology, haematology, and neurology. Initially, Whipple's disease is challenging to diagnose due to both its rarity and non-specific clinical features, almost indistinguishable from rheumatological conditions. A few years later, the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms increases the specificity of its clinical picture and helps in reaching the correct diagnosis. Diagnosis is typically made by finding PAS-positive macrophages in the lamina propria at duodenal biopsy. PCR for Tropheryma whipplei is nowadays also increasingly available, and represents an undeniable help in diagnosing this condition. However, it may also be misleading as false positives can occur. If not promptly recognized and treated, central nervous system involvement may develop, which can be fatal. The therapeutic gold standard has not yet been fully established, particularly in cases of recurrent disease, neurological involvement, and an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome that may arise following the initiation of antibiotic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paolo Minerba
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Stiliano Maimaris
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Federico Biagi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Italy; Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Gastroenterology Unit of Pavia Institute, Italy.
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Gregorio V, Albrizio A, Maimaris S, Scalvini D, Scarcella C, Cambieri P, Biagi F, Schiepatti A. Clinical and laboratory predictors and prevalence of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in patients with Whipple's disease. J Dig Dis 2023; 24:516-521. [PMID: 37616045 DOI: 10.1111/1751-2980.13223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Whipple's disease (WD) is a rare and potentially fatal infectious disease caused by Tropheryma whipplei. It is characterized by a long prodromal phase that mimics a rheumatological disease, often leading to immunosuppressant treatment. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is currently the most important complication of WD, requiring prompt recognition and treatment as it can be fatal. However, epidemiological data on IRIS are scarce. We aimed to identify the clinical and laboratory predictors of IRIS at WD diagnosis and to evaluate whether the prevalence of IRIS has changed over time. METHODS Forty-five patients with WD (mean age 52 ± 11 years; 10 females) were followed up between January 2000 and December 2021. Clinical and laboratory data at WD diagnosis were retrospectively collected and compared among patients who developed IRIS and those who did not. RESULTS Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; 33.4 ± 11.8 mm/h vs 67.1 ± 26.3 mm/h, P < 0.01), platelet (PLT; 234 × 109 /L vs 363 × 109 /L, P < 0.01), and body mass index (22.0 ± 2.0 kg/m2 vs 19.8 ± 3.0 kg/m2 , P = 0.04) differed significantly between patients who subsequently developed IRIS and those who did not. ROC analysis identified ESR ≤46 mm/h (AUROC 0.88, 95% CI 0.72-1.00) and PLT ≤ 327 × 109 /L (AUROC 0.85, 95% CI 0.70-1.00) as optimal cut-off values to discriminate WD patients at a high risk of developing IRIS. Prevalence of IRIS remained stable (22.2%) over time. CONCLUSIONS Low ESR and PLT count at diagnosis help identify WD patients at high risk of developing IRIS. Instead, a greater inflammatory response suggests a lower risk of IRIS. Prevalence of IRIS did not change over two decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Gregorio
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Albrizio
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stiliano Maimaris
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Davide Scalvini
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Chiara Scarcella
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Cambieri
- Department of Microbiology & Virology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Federico Biagi
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Gastroenterology Unit of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy
| | - Annalisa Schiepatti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Gastroenterology Unit of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy
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Zhou Y, Yang N, Ruan S, Wu S, Yu D, Jin J. Lung cancer patient with Tropheryma whipplei and Nocardia co-infection. Ultrastruct Pathol 2023; 47:451-459. [PMID: 37533314 DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2023.2241888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
A 34-year-old male presented with lung shadow and was asymptomatic during medical examination. The patient had a prior history of thyroid tumors. Imaging manifestation showed a nodule in the medial segment of the right middle lobe, with partial obstruction of the distal bronchus within the lesion. Ground-glass and inflammatory nodules were observed in the anterior segment of the right upper lobe, as well as chronic inflammatory changes in the lower lobe of the right lung. Lung histopathological examination suggested invasive adenocarcinoma. A morphological examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed the presence of Tropheryma whipplei (TW) and Nocardia. Although TW infection has been reported in cancer patients, co-infection with Nocardia is a unique occurrence in this case. Opportunistic pathogens are common in immunocompromised patients but in this case, the patient was a young adult with normal immunity and an early-stage tumor with TW and Nocardia co-infection. We demonstrated the presence of rare microorganisms through imaging findings, combined with different staining methods of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue sections and evaluation of morphological characteristics. The aim of the present study was to provide early diagnosis and treatment of patients by improving microbial morphological detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuli Zhou
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.261 Huan Sha Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nan Yang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Senlin Ruan
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.261 Huan Sha Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shenghai Wu
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.261 Huan Sha Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Daojun Yu
- Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.261 Huan Sha Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Juan Jin
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
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Scalvini D, Cambieri P, Schiepatti A, Maimaris S, Lusetti F, Vattiato C, Marone P, Villani L, Biagi F. Patients with Whipple's disease have a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection. Eur J Intern Med 2023; 111:77-81. [PMID: 36822892 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2023.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Whipple's disease is a rare systemic infection due to an impaired immunological response against T. whipplei in genetically predisposed individuals. Since we previously noted development of H. pylori related complications in some patients with Whipple's disease, our aim was to study the prevalence of H. pylori infection and H. pylori related disorders in Whipple's disease. METHODS Whipple's disease patients diagnosed from Jan-2002 to Dec-2021 and two controls per patient, matched for age, gender, ethnicity and year of H. pylori testing were enrolled. RESULTS 34 patients with Whipple's disease and 68 controls were enrolled. H. pylori infection (13/34 vs 8/68, p<0.01), H. pylori-related gastritis (p<0.01) and gastric atrophy (p = 0.01) were significantly more common in patients with Whipple's disease than controls. H. pylori infection and Whipple's disease were diagnosed synchronously in 6/13 patients, and during follow-up in the remaining 7. Interestingly, these last 7 patients were all on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole long-term therapy. Two patients developed H. pylori-related gastric malignancies during follow-up. No patients on doxycycline developed H. pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS H. pylori infection and related disorders are common in patients with Whipple's disease and should always be excluded both at time of diagnosis and during follow-up. These findings should be taken into account when selecting antibiotics for Whipple's disease long-term prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Patrizia Cambieri
- Department of Microbiology & Virology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Annalisa Schiepatti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy; Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Gastroenterology Unit of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stiliano Maimaris
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Francesca Lusetti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Claudia Vattiato
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Digestive Endoscopy Unit of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy
| | - Piero Marone
- Department of Microbiology & Virology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Villani
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Pathology Unit of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy
| | - Federico Biagi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy; Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Gastroenterology Unit of Pavia Institute, Pavia, Italy.
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Lin M, Wang K, Qiu L, Liang Y, Tu C, Chen M, Wang Z, Wu J, Huang Y, Tan C, Chen Q, Zheng X, Liu J. Tropheryma whipplei detection by metagenomic next-generation sequencing in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: A cross-sectional study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:961297. [PMID: 36061864 PMCID: PMC9428251 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.961297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropheryma whipplei is the bacterium associated with Whipple’s disease (WD), a chronic systemic infectious disease primarily involving the gastrointestinal tract. T. whipplei can also be detected in different body site of healthy individuals, including saliva and feces. Traditionally, Tropheryma whipplei has a higher prevalence in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of immunocompromised individuals. Few studies have explored the significance of the detection of T. whipplei in BALF. Herein, we retrospectively reviewed 1725 BALF samples which detected for metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) from March 2019 to April 2022 in Zhuhai, China. Seventy BALs (70/1725, 4.0%) from 70 patients were positive for T. whipplei. Forty-four patients were male with an average age of 50 years. The main symptoms included cough (23/70), expectoration (13/70), weight loss (9/70), and/or dyspnea (8/70), but gastrointestinal symptoms were rare. Chronic liver diseases were the most common comorbidity (n=15, 21.4%), followed by diabetes mellitus (n=13, 18.6%). Only nine patients (12.9%) were immunocompromised. Twenty-four patients (34.3%) were finally diagnosed with reactivation tuberculosis and 15 patients (21.4%) were diagnosed with lung tumors, including 13 primary lung adenocarcinoma and two lung metastases. Fifteen patients (21.4%) had pneumonia. Among the 20 samples, T. whipplei was the sole agent, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was the most common detected other pathogens. Among the non-tuberculosis patients, 31 (31/46, 67.4%) had ground glass nodules or solid nodules on chest CT. Our study indicates that T. whipplei should be considered as a potential contributing factor in some lung diseases. For non-immunocompromised patients, the detection of T. whipplei also needs attention. The mNGS technology improves the detection and attention of rare pathogens. In the future, the infection, colonization, and prognosis of T. whipplei in lung still need to be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minmin Lin
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Kongqiu Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Lidi Qiu
- Department of Infectious Disease Intensive Care Unit, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yingjian Liang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Changli Tu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Meizhu Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Zhenguo Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yiying Huang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Cuiyan Tan
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Qijiu Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xiaobin Zheng
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM), the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Liu,
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