The high prevalence of Whipple's disease in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases
Authors' conclusion
WD is rare but in a rheumatological setting its prevalence is much higher than expected.
Study context
- Population
- Patients attending a rheumatological outpatient clinic between 6/2019 and 8/202338 referred for duodenal biopsy
- Participants
- 23,094 patients
- Outcome
- Prevalence of WD in a rheumatological setting
Methodological detailssingle rheumatological outpatient clinic, separate retrospective validation cohort
- Single rheumatological outpatient clinic
- Separate retrospective validation cohort
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence of WD, whole cohort
Whipple's disease (WD) diagnosed
6 of 23,094
0.03%, 95% CI 0.01–0.06%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Prevalence of WD among patients with clinical suspicion of WD (referred for duodenal biopsy)
- WD diagnosed
- 6/38 (15.78%, 95% CI 6.02-31.25%)
Prevalence of WD among males with clinical suspicion of WD (subgroup)
- WD diagnosed
- 5/21, 23.81%, 95% CI 8.22-47.2%
ESR and CRP at WD diagnosis
- ESR and CRP elevated in all patients with WD; confirmed in separate cohort of 55 WD patients
Original publication
The high prevalence of Whipple's disease in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 24 February 2025. doi:10.
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