Diagnosis of Whipple's Disease by Rectal Biopsy
Authors: Charles M. Caravati, Melvin Litch, Benjamin B. Weisiger, Stuart Ragland, Harold Berliner
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1963)

Case Studies1 January 1963Diagnosis of Whipple's Disease by Rectal BiopsyWith a Report of Three Additional CasesCHARLES M. CARAVATI, M.D., F.A.C.P., MELVIN LITCH, M.D., BENJAMIN B. WEISIGER, M.D., F.A.C.P., STUART RAGLAND, HAROLD BERLINER, M.D.CHARLES M. CARAVATI, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this author, MELVIN LITCH, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, BENJAMIN B. WEISIGER, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this author, STUART RAGLANDSearch for more papers by this author, HAROLD BERLINER, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-58-1-166 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptSince Whipple's classic description in 1907 of the disease which bears his name, over 100 documented cases have been reported in the world literature (1). New hope for control and, possibly, cure of this disease has made early diagnosis imperative (2), while new methods of diagnosis have made this possible (3, 4).Biopsies of peripheral nodes and peroral jejunal biopsy by various suction tubes and capsules have resulted in a definitive histological diagnosis in many cases.Although Whipple was well aware of the multiple organ involvement, this has been reiterated by the finding of the typical foamy macrophages containing granular...References1. WHIPPLE GH: Hitherto undescribed disease characterized anatomically by deposits of fat and fatty acids in intestinal and mesenteric lymphatic tissues. Bull. Johns Hopkins Hosp. 18: 382, 1907. Google Scholar2. HOLTISSELBACHERJONES PRKJCM: The reversibility of Whipple's disease. New Engl. J. Med. 264: 1335, 1961. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. BRODOFFHOFFMANDELUCASPIRO MWAVAHM: Intestinal lipodystrophy (Whipple's disease). Diagnosis by small intestine biopsy tube. JAMA 171· 154, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. CHEARSSMITHRUFFIN WCAGJM: Diagnosis of Whipple's disease by peripheral lymph node biopsy. Amer. J. Med. 27: 351, 1959. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. CHEARSASHWORTH WCCT: Electron microscopic study of the intestinal mucosa in Whipple's disease. Gastroenterology 41: 129, 1961. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. HAUBRICHWATSONSIERACKI WSJHJC: Unique morphologic features of Whipple's disease. Gastroenterology 39: 454, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. COHENSCHIMMELHOLTISSELBACHER ASEMPRKJ: Ultrastructural abnormalities in Whipple's disease. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 105: 411, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. MADDOCKSRALSTONWEIDEN IMS: Whipple's disease: remission following nitrogen mustard. Gastroenterology 39: 497, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. PLUMMERWEISIGERCARAVATI KBBCM: Successful corticotropin (ACTH) therapy of Whipple's disease refractory to cortisone. Arch. Intern. Med. 91: 784, 1953. CrossrefGoogle Scholar10. FARNAN P: Whipple's disease. The clinical aspects. Quart. J. Med. 28: 163, 1959. MedlineGoogle Scholar11. LAMPERTTOMCUMINGS PMIJN: Encephalopathy in Whipple's disease. A histochemical study. Neurology 12: 65, 1962. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. HARGROVEVERNERSMITHHORSWELLRUFFIN MDJVAGRRJM: Whipple's disease. Report of two cases with intestinal biopsy before and after treatment. Gastroenterology 39: 619, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. AMMANBOCKUS RWHL: Pathogenesis of regional enteritis. Arch. Intern. Med. 107: 504, 1961. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. AMMAN RW: The pathogenesis of Whipple's disease: investigations in animal experiments, in Proceedings of the World Congress of Gastroenterology, The Williams & Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1959, pp. 914-923. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: CHARLES M. CARAVATI, M.D., F.A.C.P.; MELVIN LITCH, M.D.; BENJAMIN B. WEISIGER, M.D., F.A.C.P.; STUART RAGLAND; HAROLD BERLINER, M.D.Affiliations: Richmond, VirginiaFrom the Medical Services of the Medical College of Virginia and the McGuire Veterans Administration Hospital, Richmond, Virginia.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Charles M. Caravati, M.D., 807 West Franklin Street, Richmond 20, Virginia. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byGranulomas in the Liver, with a Focus on Infectious CausesMiscellaneous Disorders of the Large IntestineSarcoidlike granulomas as an early manifestation of Whipple's diseaseHepatic Granulomas in Whipple's DiseaseAbsence of PAS-Positive Macrophages in Hepatic and Lymph Node Granulomata in Whipple's DiseaseDas PeritoneumJoint changes in Whipple's diseaseWhipple's diseaseColonic Histiocytosis: Clinical and Pathological EvaluationRectal BiopsyWhipple's DiseaseClinical, histochemical, and electron microscopic study of colonic histiocytosis.Jejunal biopsy in the diagnosis of malabsorption syndromesMalabsorptionThe arthritis of Whipple's diseaseEdema of the Colon in Whipple’s Disease 1 January 1963Volume 58, Issue 1Page: 166-170KeywordsAnal and rectal disordersBiopsyMedical servicesMucous membranesProctitis ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 January 1963 PDF downloadLoading ...