What does this research mean for the field?

Constrictive myopericarditis can occur as a rare manifestation of Whipple's disease, and it can be managed successfully with antibiotic therapy and corticosteroids without the need for surgical intervention. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To describe an uncommon presentation of Whipple’s disease causing constrictive myopericarditis and decompensated right-sided heart failure, highlighting non-surgical therapeutic strategies.

January 10, 2026CureusOpen Access

Whipple’s Disease, a Rare Cause of Constrictive Myopericarditis and Right-Sided Heart Failure

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Key result

Antibiotics and corticosteroids improve Whipple's disease constrictive myopericarditis without surgery in a reported case.

Why the study?

Cardiac involvement in Whipple's disease is uncommon, and constrictive myopericarditis is a potentially life-threatening cause of right-sided heart failure.

Key Points

To describe an uncommon presentation of Whipple’s disease causing constrictive myopericarditis and decompensated right-sided heart failure, highlighting non-surgical therapeutic strategies.
Clinical and diagnostic evaluation of a 67-year-old woman presenting with decompensated right-sided heart failure, severe malnutrition, chronic seronegative arthritis, and diarrhea.
Cardiopulmonary assessment using echocardiography and chest CT, followed by duodenal and pericardial biopsies evaluated via Periodic acid-Schiff staining and polymerase chain reaction for Tropheryma whipplei.
Conservative medical management using intravenous ceftriaxone, oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and oral corticosteroids for suspected immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.
Duodenal and pericardial histopathology confirmed Tropheryma whipplei infection through Periodic acid-Schiff-positive macrophages and positive polymerase chain reaction testing.
Transthoracic echocardiography documented severe right ventricular systolic dysfunction with a tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) of 8 mm and systolic pulmonary artery pressure of 34 mmHg.
Adjunctive oral corticosteroid therapy combined with antibiotics led to clinical stabilization, significant regression of the intrapericardial mass, and avoidance of surgical pericardiectomy.

Structured PICO

Population

67-year-old woman with decompensated right-sided heart failure and constrictive myopericarditis due to Whipple's disease

Intervention

Intravenous ceftriaxone followed by oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, combined with oral corticosteroids (methylprednisolone)

Outcome

Clinical improvement and regression of pericardial mass

This case demonstrates that constrictive myopericarditis due to Whipple's disease can be successfully managed with antibiotics and corticosteroids without the need for surgical pericardiectomy in high-risk patients.

Discussion

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Implication

May support medical management without pericardiectomy in select high-risk cases; leaves open generalizability pending prospective data.

Cite This Study

Marot et al. (2025) studied this question. A 67-year-old woman with constrictive myopericarditis due to Whipple's disease showed clinical improvement after antibiotic therapy and corticosteroids without surgery.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6963222d91e05aa366cb8bc6 https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.99934

Topics

Myocarditis Heart failure HFrEF treatment COVID-19 cardiovascular

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Whipple’s Disease, a Rare Cause of Constrictive Myopericarditis and Right-Sided Heart Failure

Key Points

Structured PICO

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Topics

Whipple’s Disease, a Rare Cause of Constrictive Myopericarditis and Right-Sided Heart Failure

Key Points

Structured PICO

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Topics

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