Tuesday, February, 14, 2012

Whipple’s disease

Table of Contents

Definition

Whipple's disease is a rare condition that prevents the small intestines from properly absorbing nutrients. This is called malabsorption.


Alternative Names

Intestinal lipodystrophy


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Whipple's disease is caused by infection from bacteria called Tropheryma whippelii. The disorder mainly affects middle-aged white men.

Whipple's disease is extremely rare. Risk factors are unknown.



Review Date: 05/04/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)