DOI: 10.12890/2021_002596

Blood culture-negative endocarditis caused by Tropheryma whipplei: a case report of Whipple’s endocarditis

Authors

  • Silke Knol Department of Cardiology, Hospital Group Twente (ZGT), Almelo and Hengelo, The Netherlands
  • Rogier L Nijhuis Department of Cardiology, Hospital Group Twente (ZGT), Almelo and Hengelo, The Netherlands
  • Felix Geeraedts Laboratory Microbiology Twente Achterhoek (LabMicTA), Hengelo, The Netherlands
  • Gerard Linssen Department of Cardiology, Hospital Group Twente (ZGT), Almelo and Hengelo, The Netherlands

g.linssen@zgt.nl

Keywords

Whipple’s endocarditis, Tropheryma whipplei, blood culture-negative endocarditis

Abstract

Case description: A 67-year-old man was admitted with progressive heart failure, due to blood culture-negative endocarditis of the aortic valve. In early course, urgent aortic valve replacement was needed. A polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) on samples of the explanted aortic valve revealed Tropheryma whipplei. He received ceftriaxone, followed by long-term co-trimoxazole. Recent arthralgia may have been a diagnostic clue.

Conclusion: Whipple’s endocarditis should be assessed in patients with arthralgia and blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNIE).

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References

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Published

2021-05-19

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 5 (2021)

How to Cite

1.
Knol S, Nijhuis RL, Geeraedts F, Linssen G. Blood culture-negative endocarditis caused by Tropheryma whipplei: a case report of Whipple’s endocarditis. EJCRIM [Internet]. 2021 May 19 [cited 2026 Nov. 3];8(5). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/2596