Whipple's Disease Can Mimic Chronic AIDS Enteropathy

George M. Maliha; Kenneth S. Hepps; Diane M. Maia; Kim R. Gentry; Armando E. Fraire; Richard W. Goodgame

doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.1991.tb06834.x

Whipple's Disease Can Mimic Chronic AIDS Enteropathy

George M. Maliha, Kenneth S. Hepps, Diane M. Maia, Kim R. Gentry, Armando E. Fraire, Richard W. Goodgame

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous case reports have demonstrated that the intestinal pathology of Mycobacterium avium‐intracellulare (MAI) infection in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has a light microscopic appearance similar to Whipple's disease. This case report describes a 52‐yr‐old male patient with a clinical picture suggestive of AIDS, including diarrhea, weight loss, oral thrush, and intestinal cryptosporidiosis. The intestinal biopsy showed light microscopic features compatible with either MAI or Whipple's disease, but electron microscopy confirmed the presence of the Whipple bacillus. Markers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were absent. Although immune abnormalities have been reported in Whipple's disease, this is the first report of opportunistic infections complicating this condition. A useful clinical pearl emerges from this and other cases: AIDS can mimic Whipple's disease; Whipple's disease can mimic AIDS.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	79-81
Number of pages	3
Journal	The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume	86
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.1991.tb06834.x
State	Published - Jan 1991
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Hepatology
Gastroenterology

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10.1111/j.1572-0241.1991.tb06834.x

Cite this

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title = "Whipple's Disease Can Mimic Chronic AIDS Enteropathy",

abstract = "Previous case reports have demonstrated that the intestinal pathology of Mycobacterium avium‐intracellulare (MAI) infection in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has a light microscopic appearance similar to Whipple's disease. This case report describes a 52‐yr‐old male patient with a clinical picture suggestive of AIDS, including diarrhea, weight loss, oral thrush, and intestinal cryptosporidiosis. The intestinal biopsy showed light microscopic features compatible with either MAI or Whipple's disease, but electron microscopy confirmed the presence of the Whipple bacillus. Markers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were absent. Although immune abnormalities have been reported in Whipple's disease, this is the first report of opportunistic infections complicating this condition. A useful clinical pearl emerges from this and other cases: AIDS can mimic Whipple's disease; Whipple's disease can mimic AIDS.",

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AU - Fraire, Armando E.

AU - Goodgame, Richard W.

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Whipple's Disease Can Mimic Chronic AIDS Enteropathy

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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