An Unusual Presentation of Tropheryma Whipplei Infection

Abstract

Whipple's disease is an infection caused by the Gram-positive bacillus Tropheryma whipplei. Invasion or uptake of the bacteria can occur in various parts of the body. The differential diagnoses are broad due to the wide spectrum of infection, and the disease is diagnosed based on biopsy of suspected lesions, usually in the small intestine. We present the case of a 56-year-old man with no significant prior medical history who presented with swelling and pain in the left eye. Review of systems revealed 6 months of persistent diarrhea, and intestinal biopsy revealed periodic acid-Schiff–positive macrophages.