Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Whipple's Disease in MRCP

Whipple's Disease in MRCP

Yes, you are right, Whipple's disease is rare but not in your MRCP Part 1 and 2 examination. I myself never diagnosed Whipple's disease before but this illness is ceratinly a all time favourite in MRCP examination.

It is a rare, systemic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. First described by George Hoyt Whipple in 1907.

It is one of a important diffential diagnosis of malabsorption syndrome and mainly affect the small bowel. It is more common in those with HLA-B27

Although Whipple's disease primary leads to GIT syndrome ( diarrhoe,weight loss) but for MRCP, patients with Whipple's disease is usually illustrated with symptoms of joint pain!

The diagnosis- jejunal biospy with PAS staining.The macrophages stain strongly with PASand contain intracellular bacilli of the bacteria.

Treatment- prolonged antibiotics of penicillin,tetracycline,co-tromoxazole or chrolamphenicol.

.

0 comments: