Volume 30, Number 5—May 2024
Research Letter
Novel Patterns in High-Resolution Computed Tomography in Whipple Pneumonia
Table
Study (reference) | Patient age, y/sex | CT findings | Symptoms | Inflammatory indicators | Patient immune status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fenollar et al. (2) |
70/F |
Diffuse bilateral micronodular involvement, mediastinal lymphadenopathy |
Nocturnal sweats, fever, dyspnea, myalgia, arthralgia, diarrhea |
Unremarkable leukocyte and CRP levels |
Immunocompetent |
Stein et al. (3) |
24/M |
Right upper lobe pneumonia and bilateral alveolar condensation |
Dyspnea, productive cough, high-grade fever |
Elevated leukocyte and CRP levels |
HIV |
Zhang and Xu (4) |
26/M |
A thick-walled cavity in the left upper lung |
Breathing-related chest pain |
Unremarkable leukocyte and CRP levels |
Immunocompetent |
Kelly et al. (5) |
31/M |
Several discrete nodules |
Dry cough with progressive weight loss, malaise, poor appetite |
Elevated ESR |
Immunocompetent |
Li et al. (6) |
39/F |
Diffuse bilateral ground glass opacity and consolidation |
Coughing, dyspnea, low-grade fever |
Elevated neutrophil and CRP levels |
Immunocompetent |
Canessa et al. (7) |
60/F |
Alveolar consolidation in the left lower lobe, pleural effusion |
Diarrhea, progressive dyspnea, dry cough, weight loss |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Lin et al. (8) | Mixed | Nodular type: ground glass nodules or solid nodules; pneumonia type: focal or patchy mixed density shadow; other manifestations: cavity, cystic, or pleural effusion. | Respiratory symptoms, weight loss, fever, rare gastrointestinal symptoms | Unremarkable leukocyte and CRP levels | Unknown |
*CRP, C-reactive protein; CT, computed tomography; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
References
- Boumaza A, Ben Azzouz E, Arrindell J, Lepidi H, Mezouar S, Desnues B. Whipple’s disease and Tropheryma whipplei infections: from bench to bedside. Lancet Infect Dis. 2022;22:e280–91. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Fenollar F, Ponge T, La Scola B, Lagier JC, Lefebvre M, Raoult D. First isolation of Tropheryma whipplei from bronchoalveolar fluid and clinical implications. J Infect. 2012;65:275–8. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Stein A, Doutchi M, Fenollar F, Raoult D. Tropheryma whipplei pneumonia in a patient with HIV-2 infection. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013;188:1036–7. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Zhang WM, Xu L. Pulmonary parenchymal involvement caused by Tropheryma whipplei. Open Med (Wars). 2021;16:843–6. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Kelly CA, Egan M, Rawlinson J. Whipple’s disease presenting with lung involvement. Thorax. 1996;51:343–4. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Li W, Zhang Q, Xu Y, Zhang X, Huang Q, Su Z. Severe pneumonia in adults caused by Tropheryma whipplei and Candida sp. infection: a 2019 case series. BMC Pulm Med. 2021;21:29. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Canessa PA, Pratticò L, Sivori M, Magistrelli P, Fedeli F, Cavazza A, et al. Acute fibrinous and organising pneumonia in Whipple’s disease. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2008;69:186–8.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lin M, Wang K, Qiu L, Liang Y, Tu C, Chen M, et al. Tropheryma whipplei detection by metagenomic next-generation sequencing in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid: A cross-sectional study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022;12:
961297 . DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar - Duss FR, Jaton K, Vollenweider P, Troillet N, Greub G. Whipple disease: a 15-year retrospective study on 36 patients with positive polymerase chain reaction for Tropheryma whipplei. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2021;27:910.e9–13. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lagier JC, Papazian L, Fenollar F, Edouard S, Melenotte C, Laroumagne S, et al. Tropheryma whipplei DNA in bronchoalveolar lavage samples: a case control study. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2016;22:875–9. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
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