Which is defective in Whipple disease?
Whipple disease is caused by a type of bacterium called Tropheryma whipplei. The bacteria affect the mucosal lining of your small intestine first, forming small sores (lesions) within the wall of the intestine. The bacteria also damage the fine, hairlike projections (villi) that line the small intestine.
How is Whipple disease tested?
How is Whipple’s disease diagnosed? People with Whipple’s disease have the Tropheryma whipplei bacteria in their small intestines. The only way to test for the bacteria is through a biopsy. Your healthcare provider uses a scope to remove a small piece of tissue from the small intestine.
What organs are affected by Whipple disease?
Whipple disease is an infectious bacterial disease that affects many different organ systems and interferes with the body’s ability to process (metabolize) fats. The disease usually occurs in the gastrointestinal system, but may affect any part of the body including the heart, lungs, brain, joints, and eyes.
How do you get Whipple disease?
A bacterial organism called Tropheryma Whipplei (T. Whipplei) causes Whipple disease by severely infecting the lining of the small intestine. This infection can then spread to the heart, lung, brain, joints, and eyes. Whipple can affect any system of the body but presents most often in the small intestine.
How long does Whipple’s disease last?
Treatment is long-term, generally lasting a year or two, with the aim of destroying the bacteria. But symptom relief generally comes much quicker, often within the first week or two. Most people with no brain or nervous system complications recover completely after a full course of antibiotics.
How long does Whipple disease last?
What doctor treats Whipple disease?
Departments that treat this condition
- Endocrinology.
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
- Neurology.