Whipple disease revealed by musculocutaneous symptoms, with muscle biopsy cultures positive for Tropheryma whipplei.

A patient experienced sudden onset of musculocutaneous symptoms 3 years after being diagnosed with polyarthritis. Biopsies from the duodenum, skin, and muscle established the diagnosis of Whipple disease. Cultures of muscle biopsy specimens grew Tropheryma whipplei. Adequate antibiotic therapy ensured a favorable outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which T. whipplei was recovered from muscle biopsy specimens, confirming the infectious nature of muscle involvement in Whipple disease.