We have located links that may give you full text access.
Immune recovery uveitis in Whipple's disease: an unusual ocular presentation.
Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection 2024 Februrary 14
PURPOSE: To describe an unusual case of Whipple's disease (WD) complicated by uveitis, and subsequent paradoxical worsening after effective antibiotic treatment targeting Tropheryma whipplei (TW).
METHODS: Case report.
RESULTS: A 53-year-old male presented with bilateral knee arthritis, weight loss, chronic low-grade fever, and cognitive disorders. He was under treatment with tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFi) for seronegative spondyloarthritis. Given this unusual clinical presentation, further investigations were performed and revealed blood, saliva, stool, synovial fluid and cerebrospinal fluid positivity for TW, confirming the diagnosis of systemic WD. Ophthalmologic examination revealed bilateral posterior uveitis and an aqueous humor sample confirmed the presence of intraocular TW. TNFi were stopped, and the patient was subsequently treated with adequate antibiotics (ceftriaxone, followed by doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine), and subconjunctival corticosteroid injections. After a transient improvement of the ocular symptoms, he presented a recurrence of posterior segment inflammation, leading to repeated PCR testing for TW which were negative. Therefore, paradoxical worsening of the inflammation in the context of immune recovery uveitis (IRU) was thought to be the culprit. The patient was treated with systemic corticosteroid therapy, allowing for rapid improvement of the ocular findings.
CONCLUSIONS: This case underlines the possibility of IRU complicating WD. Ophthalmologists, rheumatologists, and internists should be aware of this rare complication, particularly in the context of previous immunosuppressive therapy.
METHODS: Case report.
RESULTS: A 53-year-old male presented with bilateral knee arthritis, weight loss, chronic low-grade fever, and cognitive disorders. He was under treatment with tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFi) for seronegative spondyloarthritis. Given this unusual clinical presentation, further investigations were performed and revealed blood, saliva, stool, synovial fluid and cerebrospinal fluid positivity for TW, confirming the diagnosis of systemic WD. Ophthalmologic examination revealed bilateral posterior uveitis and an aqueous humor sample confirmed the presence of intraocular TW. TNFi were stopped, and the patient was subsequently treated with adequate antibiotics (ceftriaxone, followed by doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine), and subconjunctival corticosteroid injections. After a transient improvement of the ocular symptoms, he presented a recurrence of posterior segment inflammation, leading to repeated PCR testing for TW which were negative. Therefore, paradoxical worsening of the inflammation in the context of immune recovery uveitis (IRU) was thought to be the culprit. The patient was treated with systemic corticosteroid therapy, allowing for rapid improvement of the ocular findings.
CONCLUSIONS: This case underlines the possibility of IRU complicating WD. Ophthalmologists, rheumatologists, and internists should be aware of this rare complication, particularly in the context of previous immunosuppressive therapy.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
A Guide to the Use of Vasopressors and Inotropes for Patients in Shock.Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 2024 April 14
British Society for Rheumatology guideline on management of adult and juvenile onset Sjögren disease.Rheumatology 2024 April 17
Albumin: a comprehensive review and practical guideline for clinical use.European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024 April 13
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System: From History to Practice of a Secular Topic.International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024 April 5
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app