Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffBecause so little is known about the bacterium that causes Whipple's disease, risk factors for the disease haven't been clearly identified. Based on available reports, it appears more likely to affect:
- Men
- People ages 40 to 60
- Whites in North America and Europe
References
- Whipple's disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/whipple/. Accessed April 20, 2010.
- Schneider T, et al. Whipple's disease: New aspects of pathogenesis and treatment. The Lancet. 2008;8:179.
- Infectious enterocolitis. In: Kumar V, et al. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/198838576-5/991412257/2060/201.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0792-2..50022-5--cesec139_1852. Accessed April 20, 2010.
- Apstein M, et al. Whipple's disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 20, 2010.
- Marth T, et al. Whipple's disease. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 76th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier: 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00101-6--s0025&uniq=198838576&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&sid=991410994#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00101-6--s0030%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-443-06839-3. Accessed April 30, 2010.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 30, 2010.

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