Whipple Disease Presenting as Isolated Transverse Myelitis in a Girl with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report of a Difficult Diagnosis with Literature Review

Abstract

we describe an atypical case of Whipple disease involving exclusively the spinal cord in an adolescent receiving immunosuppressive therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus. The diagnosis was particularly difficult since lupus and Whipple disease can present similar clinical features and the patient’s prolonged contact with sewage was initially not mentioned. A literature review of the clinical, imaging, diagnostic, and therapeutic challenges of Whipple disease is also performed.