Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei

Abstract Objective The treatment plan and process for acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei have not been clearly defined. The study aimed to conduct a retrospective analysis of the treatment for patients with acute pneumonia, caused by Tropheryma whipplei, diagnosed through metagenomic next...

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Main Authors: Yinping Huo, Chao Wu, Dawen Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03657-2
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author Yinping Huo
Chao Wu
Dawen Ma
author_facet Yinping Huo
Chao Wu
Dawen Ma
author_sort Yinping Huo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective The treatment plan and process for acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei have not been clearly defined. The study aimed to conduct a retrospective analysis of the treatment for patients with acute pneumonia, caused by Tropheryma whipplei, diagnosed through metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Methods All patients underwent routine blood examinations and chest CT scans. Electronic fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed to collect BALF samples from the lesion subsegments. The BALF samples were subjected to mNGS analysis. During hospitalization, all patients were treated with imipenem-cilastatin combined with compound sulfamethoxazole (SMZ-TMP) tablets for anti-infection, and they took SMZ-TMP orally for 3 months after discharge and followed up. Results We identified 7 cases where Tropheryma whipplei was the primary pathogen, with 3 of these cases having it as the sole detected pathogen. The clinical manifestations of acute Tropheryma whipplei pneumonia are atypical. Chest CT scans revealed that 3 cases had exudative lesions in both lungs, 4 cases had unilateral pulmonary exudative lesions, 3 cases had bilateral pulmonary nodules, 2 cases had interstitial changes, and 3 cases had pleural effusion. Following treatment, all follow-up cases showed no recurrence. Conclusions The mNGS examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can significantly improve the early diagnosis of acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei. The treatment involving imipenem-cilastatin combined with SMZ-TMP, followed by oral SMZ-TMP for three months, is effective.
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spelling doaj-art-9b7a34faca744d2fbf5e3a6a57db8e442025-08-20T02:10:54ZengBMCBMC Pulmonary Medicine1471-24662025-04-012511710.1186/s12890-025-03657-2Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whippleiYinping Huo0Chao Wu1Dawen Ma2Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Pukou People’s HospitalDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Pukou People’s HospitalDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Pukou People’s HospitalAbstract Objective The treatment plan and process for acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei have not been clearly defined. The study aimed to conduct a retrospective analysis of the treatment for patients with acute pneumonia, caused by Tropheryma whipplei, diagnosed through metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Methods All patients underwent routine blood examinations and chest CT scans. Electronic fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed to collect BALF samples from the lesion subsegments. The BALF samples were subjected to mNGS analysis. During hospitalization, all patients were treated with imipenem-cilastatin combined with compound sulfamethoxazole (SMZ-TMP) tablets for anti-infection, and they took SMZ-TMP orally for 3 months after discharge and followed up. Results We identified 7 cases where Tropheryma whipplei was the primary pathogen, with 3 of these cases having it as the sole detected pathogen. The clinical manifestations of acute Tropheryma whipplei pneumonia are atypical. Chest CT scans revealed that 3 cases had exudative lesions in both lungs, 4 cases had unilateral pulmonary exudative lesions, 3 cases had bilateral pulmonary nodules, 2 cases had interstitial changes, and 3 cases had pleural effusion. Following treatment, all follow-up cases showed no recurrence. Conclusions The mNGS examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can significantly improve the early diagnosis of acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei. The treatment involving imipenem-cilastatin combined with SMZ-TMP, followed by oral SMZ-TMP for three months, is effective.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03657-2Tropheryma whippleiAcute pneumoniaBronchoalveolar lavage fluidMetagenomic next generation sequencing
spellingShingle Yinping Huo
Chao Wu
Dawen Ma
Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei
BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Tropheryma whipplei
Acute pneumonia
Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
Metagenomic next generation sequencing
title Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei
title_full Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei
title_fullStr Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei
title_full_unstemmed Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei
title_short Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pneumonia caused by Tropheryma whipplei
title_sort application of metagenomic next generation sequencing in the diagnosis and treatment of acute pneumonia caused by tropheryma whipplei
topic Tropheryma whipplei
Acute pneumonia
Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
Metagenomic next generation sequencing
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03657-2
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