Tropical enteropathy and tropical sprue

Abstract

This study has confirmed the high prevalence of an enteropathy in apparently healthy, asymptomatic southern Indians. The enteropathy is manifested by jejunal biopsy changes and/or xylose, and to a lesser extent fat, malabsorption. There seems to be a relative sparing of the ileum, in that vitamin B₁₂ malabsorption is less prevalent. With respect to absorption tests, biopsy, and radiological findings, the controls form populations distinct from patients with epidemic tropical sprue. The evidence adduced suggests that tropical enteropathy and tropical sprue are two conditions of different etiology rather than different manifestations of the same disease.