Whipple bacilli within the tunica media of pulmonary arteries. 1984

T N James, and B H Bulkley

In the lungs of two patients dying with Whipple's disease, we found Schiff-positive bacilli within the tunica media of many pulmonary arteries. Tissue was examined from all five lobes of the lungs in both cases. There were no pulmonary emboli and no alveolar lesions of Whipple's disease. Focal degeneration of the tunica media was conspicuous in areas where bacilli were present, and at some sites there was some overlying intimal proliferation. Little inflammatory response was present. All the bacilli within the tunica media were free as single organisms or small clumps, and there were none within macrophages. Macrophages containing bacilli were occasionally found within the adventitia of the pulmonary arteries. The possible role of these lesions in the pathogenesis of chronic pulmonary arterial disease merits consideration.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008061 Whipple Disease A chronic systemic infection by a gram-positive bacterium, Tropheryma whippelii, mainly affecting the SMALL INTESTINE but also the JOINTS; CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM; and the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The disease is characterized by fat deposits in the INTESTINAL MUCOSA and LYMPH NODES, malabsorption, DIARRHEA with fatty stools, MALNUTRITION, and ARTHRITIS. Lipodystrophy, Intestinal,Whipple's Disease,Disease, Whipple,Disease, Whipple's,Intestinal Lipodystrophy,Whipples Disease
D008168 Lung Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood. Lungs
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011651 Pulmonary Artery The short wide vessel arising from the conus arteriosus of the right ventricle and conveying unaerated blood to the lungs. Arteries, Pulmonary,Artery, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Arteries
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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