EPIDEMIOLOGY OF WHIPPLES-DISEASE IN GERMANY - ANALYSIS OF 110 PATIENTS DIAGNOSED IN 1965-95

Background: The epidemiology of Whipple's disease (WD) is obscure. To obtain basic data, we performed an evaluation of WD patients in German y. Methods: Information was collected from 110 WD patients diagnosed d uring 1965-95 at 5 institutions in different regions of Germany. Four items were evaluated: 1) year in which the diagnosis was made; 2) resi dence and 3) age at the time of diagnosis; and 4) sex. Results: WD pat ients originated from all parts of Germany. The incidence of new cases was relatively stable, with a mean of one to two cases per year per c ollecting centre. In 1995, a maximum of 13 new WD patients was diagnos ed. There was a significant increase in the mean age of patients (1965 -75, 48.7 years; confidence interval, +/-3.98 years; 1976-85, 50.7 yea rs, +/-3.69 years; 1986-95, 57.0: years, +/-2.80 years; P < 0.01) and an increasing proportion of women (1965-85, 4%; 1986-1995, 22%). Concl usions: Whipple's disease is not quite as rare as commonly assumed. Th ere is no obvious geographic predominance. During the past three decad es, the demography of WD patients has changed.