Recurrent thrombosis as a clinical presentation of Whipple disease

Abstract

Whipple's disease (WD) is a rare infectious disease with a wide clinical spectrum. Associated thrombotic manifestations are not well described in WD, only related to 'stroke-like syndrome'. We present a case of a 39-year-old man with a 1-year history of self-limited episodes of fever, associated with generalised adenopathies and recurrent superficial and deep venous thrombosis events, which have resorted four times despite the anticoagulant treatment. Finally, the patient is diagnosed with WD. Following treatment the patient improved in his general condition, and no more episodes of fever neither thrombosis appeared during a follow-up of more than 3 years.

Keywords: bone and joint infections; haematology (incl blood transfusion); infection (gastroenterology).