1/16. Hyposplenism, antiendomysial antibodies and lymphocytic colitis in collagenous sprue.A 66-year-old woman was seen repeatedly over a decade to remove recurrent colonic adenomas and investigate episodes of watery diarrhea. Although the diarrhea was believed to be due to lymphocytic colitis, she developed weight loss, hypoproteinemia and hyposplenism that resulted in further studies, specifically to exclude celiac disease. Small intestinal biopsies, however, showed severely 'flattened' villous architecture with trichrome-positive subepithelial collagenous deposits, characteristic of collagenous sprue. Antiendomysial antibodies, known serological markers of celiac disease, were also detected. While collagenous sprue has been considered a distinct small intestinal disorder, the constellation of clinical and pathological findings in this patient suggests a close link with adult celiac disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = sprue (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/16. Approaching the patient with chronic malabsorption syndrome.The causes of chronic malabsorption may be categorized as decreased intestinal absorption, most commonly caused by celiac sprue; or maldigestion caused by pancreatic insufficiency. The initial step in the evaluation of these patients should include stool studies to confirm fat malabsorption. If fat malabsorption is confirmed, endoscopy with small-bowel biopsies and aspirates for bacterial culture usually follows. A normal endoscopic examination should lead to assessment of pancreatic function. In the setting of normal pancreatic function and the absence of bile acid deficiency, a barium radiograph of the small bowel should be made, looking for anatomical abnormalities. Celiac sprue is an intolerance to gluten caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and immunologic factors. It classically causes malabsorption. However, it is likely that many patients who exhibit only minor manifestations of the disease go unrecognized and untreated. A presumed diagnosis of celiac sprue is confirmed after a clinical and endoscopic response to a gluten-free diet. Serological markers are available with high degrees of sensitivity and specificity, but duodenal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis. A minority of patients are unresponsive to a gluten-free diet, and intestinal lymphoma should be suspected in these cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = sprue (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/16. Microscopic colitis syndrome: lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis.Microscopic colitis is a syndrome consisting of chronic watery diarrhea, a normal or near-normal gross appearance of the colonic lining, and a specific histological picture described as either lymphocytic colitis or collagenous colitis. Since its initial descriptions a quarter of a century ago, microscopic colitis has become a frequent diagnosis in patients with chronic diarrhea. Understanding of the cause and pathogenesis of microscopic colitis remain incomplete, but potentially important clues have been discovered that shed light on predisposing factors. In particular, specific HLA-DQ genotypes may be permissive for the development of microscopic colitis, and suggest a linkage to the pathogenesis of celiac sprue. Although the differential diagnosis of chronic watery diarrhea is broad, the diagnosis of microscopic colitis is straightforward, involving endoscopic inspection of the colonic mucosa and proper pathologic interpretation of biopsy specimens. As the limitations of drugs ordinarily used for other forms of inflammatory bowel disease are being recognized, new approaches, such as the use of bismuth subsalicylate, are being evaluated. The prognosis of patients with microscopic colitis syndrome remains good, and symptomatic improvement can be expected in most patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = sprue (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/16. Tropical sprue after travel to tanzania.Tropical sprue (TS) is a diagnosis to consider in travelers with prolonged diarrhea and a malabsorption syndrome after return from tropical countries, particularly india and Southeast Asia. TS is an unusual condition in tropical Africa. textbooks of tropical medicine indicate a low endemicity in nigeria and a limited number of cases in south africa and zimbabwe. A medline search from 1979 to mid 1998 using "tanzania and tropical sprue" as key words disclosed no hits. We report herein a case of TS in a European traveler, who lived in tanzania for 8 months.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = sprue (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/16. zollinger-ellison syndrome. Clinical presentation in 261 patients.We prospectively evaluated the initial presenting symptoms in 261 patients with zollinger-ellison syndrome (ZES) over a 25-year period. Twenty-two percent of the patients had multiple endocrine neoplasia-type 1 (men-1) with ZES. Mean age at onset was 41.1 /- 0.7 years, with men-1 patients presenting at a younger age than those with sporadic ZES (p < 0.0001). Three percent of the patients had onset of the disease < age 20 years, and 7% > 60 years. A mean delay to diagnosis of 5.2 /- 0.4 years occurred in all patients. A shorter duration of symptoms was noted in female patients and in patients with liver metastases. abdominal pain and diarrhea were the most common symptoms, present in 75% and 73% of patients, respectively. heartburn and weight loss, which were uncommonly reported in early series, were present in 44% and 17% of patients, respectively. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the initial presentation in a quarter of the patients. patients rarely presented with only 1 symptom (11%); pain and diarrhea was the most frequent combination, occurring in 55% of patients. An important presenting sign that should suggest ZES is prominent gastric body folds, which were noted on endoscopy in 94% of patients; however, esophageal stricture and duodenal or pyloric scarring, reported in numerous case reports, were noted in only 4%-10%. patients with men-1 presented less frequently with pain and bleeding and more frequently with nephrolithiasis. Comparing the clinical presentation before the introduction of histamine H2-receptor antagonists (pre-1980, n = 36), after the introduction of histamine H2-receptor antagonists (1981-1989, n = 118), and after the introduction of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (> 1990, n = 106) demonstrates no change in age of onset; delay in diagnosis; frequency of pain, diarrhea, weight loss; or frequency of complications of severe peptic disease (bleeding, perforations, esophageal strictures, pyloric scarring). Since the introduction of histamine H2-receptor antagonists, fewer patients had a previous history of gastric acid-reducing surgery or total gastrectomy. Only 1 patient evaluated after 1980 had a total gastrectomy, and this was done in 1977. The location of the primary tumor in general had a minimal effect on the clinical presentation, causing no effect on the age at presentation, delay in diagnosis, frequency of nephrolithiasis, or severity of disease (strictures, perforations, peptic ulcers, pyloric scarring). Disease extent had a minimal effect on symptoms, with only bleeding being more frequent in patients with localized disease. patients with advanced disease presented at a later age and with a shorter disease history (p = 0.001), were less likely to have men-1 (p = 0.0087), and tended to have diarrhea more frequently (p = 0.079). A correct diagnosis of ZES was made by the referring physician initially in only 3% of the patients. The most common misdiagnosis made were idiopathic peptic ulcer disease (71%), idiopathic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (7%), and chronic idiopathic diarrhea (7%). Other less common misdiagnosis were crohn disease (2%) and various diarrhea diseases (celiac sprue [3%], irritable bowel syndrome [3%], infectious diarrhea [2%], and lactose intolerance [1%]). Other medical disorders were present in 55% of all patients; patients with sporadic disease had fewer other medical disorders than patients with men-1 (45% versus 90%, p < 0.00001). hyperparathyroidism and a previous history of kidney stones were significantly more frequent in patients with men-1 than in those with sporadic ZES. Pulmonary disorders and other malignancies were also more common in patients with men-1. These results demonstrate that abdominal pain, diarrhea, and heartburn are the most common presenting symptoms in ZES and that heartburn and diarrhea are more common than previously reported. The presence of weight loss especially with abdominal pain, diarrhea, or heartburn is an important clue suggesting the presence of gastrinoma. The presence of prominent gastric body folds, a clinical sign that has not been appreciated, is another important clue to the diagnosis of ZES. patients with men-1 presented at an earlier age; however, in general, the initial symptoms were similar to patients without men-1. gastrinoma extent and location have minimal effects on the clinical presentation. overall, neither the introduction of successful antisecretory therapy nor widespread publication about ZES, attempting to increase awareness, has shortened the delay in diagnosis or reduced the incidence of patients presenting with peptic complications. The introduction of successful antisecretory therapy, however, has dramatically decreased the rate of surgery in controlling the acid secretion and likely led to patients presenting with less severe symptoms and fewer complications. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = sprue (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/16. Celiac sprue.Celiac sprue, celiac disease, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is a malabsorption disorder of the small intestine that occurs after ingestion of wheat gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. This disease is characterized by intestinal malabsorption associated with villous atrophy of the small intestinal mucosa, clinical and histological improvement after adherence to strict gluten free diet, and relapse when gluten is reintroduced. Celiac sprue has a high prevalence in Western europe and north america where it is estimated to affect 1:120 to 1:300 individuals. The pathogenesis of celiac sprue is related to inappropriate intestinal T-cell activation in HLA-DQ2 positive individuals triggered by antigenic peptides from wheat gluten or prolamins from barley and rye. Although previously thought to be mainly a disease of childhood onset, the diagnosis is increasingly being made in adults. There are a wide variety of presentations, which range from asymptomatic forms to severe diarrhea, weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. Extraintestinal manifestations including anemia, osteopenia or neurological disorders and associated conditions such as diabetes or hypothyroidism are commonly present. The availability of highly sensitive and specific serologic markers has dramatically facilitated the diagnosis of celiac sprue. However, the demonstration of characteristic histological abnormalities in a biopsy specimen of the small intestine remains the mainstay of diagnosis. Treatment consists of life-long avoidance of dietary gluten to control symptoms and to prevent both immediate and long-term complications.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.3333333333333keywords = sprue (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/16. Tropical malabsorption.Tropical malabsorption remains an important clinical problem for both the indigenous population of tropical countries and for short-term visitors and longer-term residents from the industrialized world. In young children, persistent diarrhea and malabsorption can result in severe retardation of growth and development. The most common cause is an intestinal infection notably the small intestinal protozoa including giardia intestinalis, cryptosporidium parvum, isospora belli, cyclospora cayetanensis, and the microsporidia. Tropical sprue still remains an important diagnostic option but is less common than it was 20 to 30 years ago. It is important to attempt to make a specific microbiological diagnosis as this will influence the choice of antibiotic. However, if laboratory facilities are not available, it is possible to offer empirical therapy although this may involve a trial of more than one antibiotic.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = sprue (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/16. Vasoative intestinal peptide and the watery diarrhea syndrome.A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for the detection of vasoactive intestinal peptide has been used to study patients with the watery diarrhea syndrome. In eleven patients the syndrome was associated with tumors, and plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide were elevated. VIP levels returned towards normal in five treated patients coincident with amelioration of symptoms. Normal values were obtained in patinets with chronic pancreatitis, sprue, medullary carcinoma, zollinger-ellison syndrome and laxative abuse. In six other patients with indistinguishable syndrome and no findings of tumor at laparotomy and autopsy, vasoactive intestinal peptide levels were normal. The results suggest that VIP may be the causative agent in patients with the watery diarrhea syndrome and tumors, but that an indistinguishable syndrome exists for which VIP is not the cause.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = sprue (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/16. Persistent diarrhea in the returning traveler: think beyond persistent infection.The report describes a young female united nations worker, stationed in east timor for an extended duration, who presented with persistent travelers' diarrhea and who was convinced that she was harboring a persistent infestation. In fact, careful history, laboratory evaluation and endoscopy with duodenal biopsies found all the classical hallmarks of unmasked celiac sprue. The patient then had a dramatic response to a gluten-free diet, with complete resolution of symptoms. Persistent travelers' diarrhea is an entity which carries an interesting and extensive differential diagnosis beyond persistent enteric infections or infestations. Rather, many sufferers have long been cleared of the initial offending pathogen and are left with either a post-infectious disorder of absorption, digestion, motility or visceral sensation or carry a chronic gastrointestinal disorder which has been unmasked by an enteric infection, such as idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal malignancy or celiac sprue. Other key issues raised by the case include the vanishing incidence of tropical sprue, an entity to which most clinicians would have mistakenly attributed this malabsorptive syndrome arising in a traveler, and the under-recognition of the protean manifestations of celiac sprue, to which we would add persistent travelers' diarrhea.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.66666666666667keywords = sprue (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/16. sulindac-associated small bowel lesion.diarrhea and a small bowel lesion similar to that reported in celiac sprue were observed in a patient who had been taking sulindac. Symptoms and biopsy abnormalities resolved completely after discontinuation of the medication and promptly recurred upon its re-administration. This report emphasizes the need to consider possible drug-related small bowel disease in the growing list of causes of the "flat" small intestinal mucosal lesion.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = sprue (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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