Whipple Disease in 2 Southwest Missouri Patients

Whipple disease (WD) is a rare condition caused by infection with Tropheryma whipplei, a ubiquitous bacterium whose detailed pathogenesis has yet to be elucidated. Its vague defining symptoms of polyarthralgia, weight loss, diarrhea, and abdominal pain do not lend themselves to a rapid diagnosis. The importance of considering WD in a differential diagnosis and recognizing the many manifestations of the condition must not be underestimated. Inadequate or delayed diagnosis can have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. In this report, we describe 2 cases of classic WD, including representative imaging and histopathology, that were diagnosed almost simultaneously in 2 unrelated adult residents of Southwest Missouri.