BACKGROUND: @entity1595 is a rare and chronic @entity4577 with multiorganic involvement. Although there is no valid estimate of its actual prevalence, only about 1,000 cases have been reported. OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographic, clinical, laboratory, endoscopic and pathologic features, type of treatment used, its duration and response. METHODS: Based on the duodenal histology, we identified twelve cases of @entity1595 in the Hospital Centre of Vila Nova de Gaia, between 1997 and 2010. RESULTS. Nine @entity1 (75%) were male and the mean age at diagnosis was 58 years. All @entity1 experienced at least one gastrointestinal and general symptom. @entity4841 were reported in four @entity1 (33%) and occurred on average six years before the onset of @entity344 . In 10 @entity1 the initial treatment was @entity206 - @entity207 . The initial treatment duration was one year in 8 cases (80%). Seven @entity1 (70%) had a symptomatic resolution between the third and sixth months of antibiotic therapy, as well as an endoscopic and histological improvement. Even in these @entity1 , there was maintenance of periodic acid-Schiff positive macrophages, although in small number and with a more diffuse distribution. Gastrointestinal symptoms predominated in cases of clinical relapse. CONCLUSIONS: The @entity344 as well as the @entity4841 were the predominant manifestations. The majority of @entity1 showed clinical and endoscopic improvement in response to treatment with @entity799 . However, in these cases periodic acid-Schiff positive macrophages can remain for years. Thus, in the absence of clinical deterioration, the presence of these structures is not indicative ofactive disease.

[ XXXX : retrospective analysis of twelve cases and review of the literature].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity799 :: ('MESH:D015662', 'Chemical') :: ['trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole'] @entity344 :: ('MESH:D005767', 'Disease') :: ['gastrointestinal and general symptoms'] @entity1595 :: ('MESH:D008061', 'Disease') :: ["Whipple's disease"] @entity207 :: ('MESH:D013420', 'Chemical') :: ['sulfamethoxazole'] @entity4841 :: ('MESH:D018771', 'Disease') :: ['arthralgia', 'Arthralgia'] @entity4577 :: ('MESH:D017192', 'Disease') :: ['bacterial disease'] @entity206 :: ('MESH:D014295', 'Chemical') :: ['trimethoprim']
@entity1595 :: (MESH:D008061,Disease) :: ['Whipple's Disease']
