Eyelid abscess as an initial manifestation of whipple’s disease: a case report and comprehensive literature review
Abstract Background Whipple’s disease, caused by Tropheryma whipplei, is a rare chronic infection predominantly affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Ocular involvement is uncommon, and periorbital manifestations are exceedingly rare. This case report highlights a unique presentation of Whipple’s di...
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2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-03902-6 |
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| author | Ashwaq Yahya Asiri Khawlah A. Alzaben Yousef A. AlOtaibi Humoud Mohammad AlOtaibi Hind Manaa Alkatan |
| author_facet | Ashwaq Yahya Asiri Khawlah A. Alzaben Yousef A. AlOtaibi Humoud Mohammad AlOtaibi Hind Manaa Alkatan |
| author_sort | Ashwaq Yahya Asiri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Whipple’s disease, caused by Tropheryma whipplei, is a rare chronic infection predominantly affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Ocular involvement is uncommon, and periorbital manifestations are exceedingly rare. This case report highlights a unique presentation of Whipple’s disease as an eyelid abscess in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Case presentation A 38-year-old male with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus presented with a two-weeks history of progressive swelling in the left upper eyelid. The swelling initially appeared three months prior and was associated with mild pain. Clinical examination revealed a large, erythematous, bluish, and non-tender swelling in the left upper eyelid, causing mechanical ptosis. Additional lesions were noted on the scalp and abdomen. Imaging showed a well-circumscribed fluid-filled lesion in the left upper eyelid. A tissue sample was taken for culture and biopsy during surgical drainage. The histopathology showed foamy macrophages with Diastase-resistant intracytoplasmic organisms that were further demonstrated by Gram stain confirming the diagnosis of Whipple’s disease. Conclusion This case illustrates a rare presentation of Whipple’s disease manifesting as an eyelid abscess in a diabetic patient. The diagnosis was confirmed through histopathological examination, emphasizing the importance of considering Whipple’s disease in the differential diagnosis of atypical ocular presentations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ca920775f80d44008c8130ef25dfc5db |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2415 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ca920775f80d44008c8130ef25dfc5db2025-08-20T03:05:56ZengBMCBMC Ophthalmology1471-24152025-03-012511610.1186/s12886-025-03902-6Eyelid abscess as an initial manifestation of whipple’s disease: a case report and comprehensive literature reviewAshwaq Yahya Asiri0Khawlah A. Alzaben1Yousef A. AlOtaibi2Humoud Mohammad AlOtaibi3Hind Manaa Alkatan4Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Khalid UniversityKing Khaled Eye Specialist HospitalOphthalmology Division, Department of surgery, College of Medicine, Bisha UniversityKing Khaled Eye Specialist HospitalDepartments of Ophthalmology and Pathology, College of Medicine, King Saud UniversityAbstract Background Whipple’s disease, caused by Tropheryma whipplei, is a rare chronic infection predominantly affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Ocular involvement is uncommon, and periorbital manifestations are exceedingly rare. This case report highlights a unique presentation of Whipple’s disease as an eyelid abscess in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Case presentation A 38-year-old male with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus presented with a two-weeks history of progressive swelling in the left upper eyelid. The swelling initially appeared three months prior and was associated with mild pain. Clinical examination revealed a large, erythematous, bluish, and non-tender swelling in the left upper eyelid, causing mechanical ptosis. Additional lesions were noted on the scalp and abdomen. Imaging showed a well-circumscribed fluid-filled lesion in the left upper eyelid. A tissue sample was taken for culture and biopsy during surgical drainage. The histopathology showed foamy macrophages with Diastase-resistant intracytoplasmic organisms that were further demonstrated by Gram stain confirming the diagnosis of Whipple’s disease. Conclusion This case illustrates a rare presentation of Whipple’s disease manifesting as an eyelid abscess in a diabetic patient. The diagnosis was confirmed through histopathological examination, emphasizing the importance of considering Whipple’s disease in the differential diagnosis of atypical ocular presentations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-03902-6Whipple's diseaseTropheryma whippleiEyelid abscessOcularDiabetes mellitus |
| spellingShingle | Ashwaq Yahya Asiri Khawlah A. Alzaben Yousef A. AlOtaibi Humoud Mohammad AlOtaibi Hind Manaa Alkatan Eyelid abscess as an initial manifestation of whipple’s disease: a case report and comprehensive literature review BMC Ophthalmology Whipple's disease Tropheryma whipplei Eyelid abscess Ocular Diabetes mellitus |
| title | Eyelid abscess as an initial manifestation of whipple’s disease: a case report and comprehensive literature review |
| title_full | Eyelid abscess as an initial manifestation of whipple’s disease: a case report and comprehensive literature review |
| title_fullStr | Eyelid abscess as an initial manifestation of whipple’s disease: a case report and comprehensive literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eyelid abscess as an initial manifestation of whipple’s disease: a case report and comprehensive literature review |
| title_short | Eyelid abscess as an initial manifestation of whipple’s disease: a case report and comprehensive literature review |
| title_sort | eyelid abscess as an initial manifestation of whipple s disease a case report and comprehensive literature review |
| topic | Whipple's disease Tropheryma whipplei Eyelid abscess Ocular Diabetes mellitus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-025-03902-6 |
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