Whipple's Disease

Whipple’s disease is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Tropheryma whipplei. It primarily affects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract but may affect other organs, such as lungs, joints, heart, kidney, central nervous system (CNS), and eyes. Severe abdominal disease leads to malabsorption and is associated with CNS co-morbidities, and can be potentially fatal. Ocular involvement (mainly keratitis, uveitis, and neuro-ophthalmic) occurs in 6–8%. It has a well-known yet unexplained propensity in middle-aged, white males.