Isolated CNS Whipple disease with normal brain MRI and false-positive CSF 14-3-3 protein: a case report and review of the literature

Isolated central nervous system Whipple disease

Background:

Whipple disease (WD) is an infection caused by Tropheryma whipplei, which might present in three different forms: classical, localized, and isolated in the central nervous system (CNS).

Methods:

We report the result of a systematic review of the literature on WD unusually presenting with exclusively neurological symptoms, including two previously unpublished cases. A description of two cases with isolated CNS WD was performed, as well as a literature search in Cochrane, Scielo, and PubMed.

Results:

Two male adult patients presented with exclusively neurological symptomatology. Both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intracranial mass suggestive of brain tumor. The histopathological examination was consistent with WD, with no systemic involvement. In the review of the literature, 35 cases of isolated CNS WD were retrieved. The median age at diagnosis was 43.5 (IQR 31.5–51.5). In 13 patients, the MRI showed a brain mass consistent with a brain tumor. The most common finding in the biopsy was the periodic-acid Schiff-stained foamy macrophages. Only five cases presented the pathognomonic sign of oculomasticatory myorhythmia. Thirteen cases had an adverse outcome that resulted in death during follow-up, whereas another 13 improved. The other nine patients remained stable or presented moderate improvement.

Conclusion:

Isolated CNS WD is a rare disease that should be considered among the differential diagnosis of CNS mass lesions. Brain biopsy is necessary to establish the diagnosis. It is stressed in the literature that an extended antibiotic course is required to prevent relapses and to control the disease.

Primary Whipple disease of the Central Nervous System presenting with rhombencephalitis

Primary Whipple disease of the Central Nervous System is a rare entity whose outcome might be fatal if not promptly diagnosed and treated. Few cases are reported in the literature with heterogeneous clinical and radiological presentations which often make the diagnosis extremely challenging. We report a case of primary Whipple disease of the Central Nervous System presenting with rhombencephalitis in a female patient in immunosuppressive treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. We describe the management of our patient and discuss the features of this rare clinical entity.

[Polyneuropathies in intestinal diseases]

Different aspects of polyneuropathies (PN) developed due to the deficit of group B vitamins in intestinal diseases are considered. Neurological disturbances related to intestinal diseases are caused by malabsorption that leads to the deficit of some compounds extremely important for normal cell metabolism, pathological changes of mucous coat of the stomach and intestine and higher sensitivity to the plant protein gluten. Vitamin B12 deficit can lead to a number of neurological disturbances; patients with pernicious anemia most often develop myelopathy and PN. An increase in serum vitamin B1 concentration is identified in 30-80% of patients with alcoholism. However, vitamin B1 deficit is seen also in ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, acute pancreatitis, esophageal metastatic lesions as well as in primary tumors of the stomach and intestine. Demyelinating as well as axonal PN may develop in patients with enteropathy. Gluten intolerance is the most often cause of PN in pathological changes in the intestine Possibilities of clinical and paraclinical diagnosis of these disorders are analyzed.

Central Nervous System Involvement as Relapse in Undiagnosed Whipple's Disease with Atypical Symptoms at Onset

Whipple's disease (WD) is a rare systemic disease caused by the gram-positive bacillus Tropheryma Whipplei and mostly characterized by arthralgias, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, fever and abdominal pain. Central Nervous System involvement is not uncommon and it may precede other disease manifestations, appear after treatment and improvement of gastrointestinal signs or rarely be the only WD symptom. We report a case in a middle-aged male with unexplained neurological signs and symptoms which were presented as relapse of previously undiagnosed WD with atypical symptoms at onset. After diagnosis confirmation, the patient was appropriately treated which resulted in improvement of major symptoms.

Systematic review: Whipple's disease (Tropheryma whipplei infection) and its unmasking by tumour necrosis factor inhibitors

BACKGROUND

The classical form of Whipple's disease (WD), clinically characterised by arthropathy, diarrhoea and weight loss, is rare. Recently, other more frequent forms of Tropheryma whipplei infection have been recognised. The clinical spectrum includes an acute, self-limiting disease in children, localised forms affecting cardiac valves or the central nervous system without intestinal symptoms, and asymptomatic carriage of T. whipplei which is found in around 4% of Europeans. Genomic analysis has shown that T. whipplei represents a host-dependent or opportunistic bacterium. It has been reported that the clinical course of T. whipplei infection may be influenced by medical immunosuppression.

AIM

To identify associations between immunomodulatory treatment and the clinical course of T. whipplei infection.

METHODS

A PubMed literature search was performed and 19 studies reporting on immunosuppression, particularly therapy with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFI) prior to the diagnosis in 41 patients with Whipple?s disease, were evaluated.

RESULTS

As arthritis may precede the diagnosis of WD by many years, a relevant percentage (up to 50% in some reports) of patients are treated with immunomodulatory drugs or with TNFI. Many publications report on a complicated Whipple?s disease course or T. whipplei endocarditis following medical immunosuppression, particularly after TNFI. Standard diagnostic tests such as periodic acid-Schiff stain used to diagnose Whipple?s disease often fail in patients who are pre-treated by TNFI.

CONCLUSIONS

In cases of doubt, Whipple?s disease should be excluded before therapy with TNFI. The fact that immunosuppressive therapy contributes to the progression of T. whipplei infection expands our pathogenetic view of this clinical entity.