Molecular detection of Tropheryma whipplei DNA: a crucial tool for diagnosing Whipple’s disease in the brain. Illustrative case
Whipple's disease should be considered in an immunosuppressed patient presenting with progressive cognitive decline, weight loss, and imaging findings that are atypical for a neoplasm. Whipple's disease can be diagnosed by histological identification of the organism or by the presence of foamy macrophages containing gram-positive bacilli in the biopsy of the small intestine or affected tissues. Its diagnosis can be challenging as T. whipplei grows inconsistently in culture and can rapidly become undetectable with antibiotic therapy. Molecular detection might be required to improve diagnostic accuracy. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24687.
Authors
- Maureen Dubreuil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6253-1515)
- Saltanat Ualiyeva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2899-1366)
- Rachel M. Erdil
- Lilit Garibyan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9266-0887)
- Marie Roguski
- Knarik Arkun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5482-5951)
- Huseyin Berk Degirmenci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0819-0748)
- Atreyee Basu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4006-6883)
Institutions
- Boston University (US)
- Boston Medical Center (US)
- Tufts Medical Center (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- VA Boston Healthcare System (US)
- University Medical Center (US)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Neurosurgery Case Lessons
- Published
- 2025-03-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3171/case24687
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Whipple's Disease and Interleukins
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.47