celiac sprue

sprue (sproo)

1. a chronic form of malabsorption syndrome, occurring in both tropical and nontropical forms.

2. in dentistry, the hole through which metal or other material is poured or forced into a mold.

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celiac sprue  see under disease.

collagenous sprue  an often fatal condition resembling celiac sprue but unresponsive to withdrawal of dietary gluten, characterized by extensive deposition of collagen in the lamina propria of the colon.

nontropical sprue  celiac disease.

refractory sprue 

1. malabsorption and flat jejunal mucosa unresponsive to withdrawal of dietary gluten.

2. celiac disease in which initial responsiveness to gluten withdrawal deteriorates with time.

tropical sprue  a malabsorption syndrome occurring in the tropics and subtropics, marked by stomatitis, diarrhea, and anemia.

unclassified sprue  refractory s.

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celiac sprue.

See celiac disease.

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sprue [sproo]

a chronic form of malabsorption syndrome occurring in both tropical and nontropical forms.

celiac sprue (nontropical sprue) celiac disease.

tropical sprue a chronic disease affecting the digestive system, marked by imperfect absorption of food elements, especially fat, xylose, and vitamin B₁₂, from the small intestine. It is closely related to celiac disease and may be identical to it.



The name sprue derives from a Dutch word describing inflammation of the mouth, which is a frequent symptom. The disease has been recognized for more than 2000 years. It occurs mostly, but not exclusively, in the tropics.

Symptoms and Treatment. Symptoms are loss of appetite, flatulence, anemia, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and extreme loss of weight. Stools are usually pale, greasy, unformed, and foul-smelling, but at times become watery. If a deficiency of vitamin B complex is also present, cracks develop at the corners of the mouth and the tongue becomes smooth, glossy, and bright red.



Treatment consists of a special diet of foods that are low in fat and high in protein. Diets free of gluten, a viscid grain protein, may be prescribed. Liver preparations, folic acid, calcium lactate tablets, vitamin B₁₂, and iron supplements to provide food elements that are not absorbed, as well as skim milk and ripe bananas, have produced favorable results. Antibiotics have proved temporarily successful, but their prolonged use is not recommended.

Cases of sprue that are recognized early respond better to treatment than do cases of long standing. Appetite and weight return rapidly. The time required for complete recovery is prolonged, however, especially in extreme cases.

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celiac sprue (sē´lēak sprōō),

n a genetic disorder in which the body cannot digest certain gluten proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats. This leads to inflammation and flattening of the wall of the small intestine and a reduction in the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Also known as
celiac disease (CD).

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Patient discussion about celiac sprue.

Q. What is Gluten and what is gluten allergy? My nephew is coming to stay with me for a few days and his mother told me that since he is allergic to gluten that I shouldn't give him to eat any. What is gluten?

A. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat (and similar proteins of the tribe Triticeae which includes other cultivars such as barley and rye). When someone is allergic to gluten the only effective treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet.
Here is a link to a website with ideas for cooking without gluten:
http://www.celiac.com/categories/Gluten%252dFree-Cooking/

Q. Is FTT a symptom of celiac? My 1.5 year old son has FTT (failure to thrive) and stomach aches. What could be causing it?

A. Failure to thrive lacks a precise definition, in part because it describes a condition rather than a specific disease. Children who fail to thrive don't receive or are unable to take in, retain, or utilize the calories needed to gain weight and grow as expected. FTT can be caused from many different things: social factors, conditions involving the gastrointestinal system like gastroesophageal reflux, chronic diarrhea, cystic fibrosis, chronic liver disease, and celiac disease. From a chronic illness or medical disorder, an intolerance of milk protein, infections or metabolic disorders.

Q. How do you diagnose celiac? My daughter is 3 years old and is constantly vomiting, has diarrhea and stomach aches. Could this be celiac?

A. Numerous studies demonstrate that children with Celiac frequently have gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as diarrhea with failure to thrive (FTT), abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal distension. The symptoms you described could in fact be celiac so you should ask your GP to test your duaghter for it.