Question:

Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive macrophages are seen in which condition?

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Foamy, diastase-resistant PAS-positive, non-acid-fast macrophages in lamina propria point to one infection.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Whipple's disease
  • Crohn's disease
  • AIDS
  • None of the above
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Whipple's disease is a systemic infection caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei, classically affecting the small intestine and causing malabsorption, arthralgia and weight loss.
Step 2: The histological hallmark is the accumulation of foamy macrophages in the lamina propria that contain the organism. These macrophages stain strongly with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), producing diastase-resistant, PAS-positive granules.
Step 3: A key distinguishing point is that these PAS-positive macrophages are non-acid-fast. This separates Whipple's disease from Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection in AIDS, whose macrophages are PAS-positive but also acid-fast.
Step 4: Crohn's disease shows transmural inflammation and non-caseating granulomas, not PAS-positive macrophages. Therefore the best single answer is Whipple's disease.
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