The Diagnosis of Sprue in Nontropical Areas

SPRUE and spruelike states are not rare in northern latitudes, but the complicating features are often so prominent that the underlying disorder is not immediately recognized. Four patients seen within the last two) years at the Massachusetts Memorial Hospitals illustrate not only the wide variety of symptoms encountered but also the ensuing diagnostic difficulties. In each of these cases initial failure to make the correct diagnosis postponed adequate therapy, which, in sprue, may not be completely curative but will often allow a severely debilitated person to resume a normal life. Hence reports of these patients are presented,