TROPICAL AND NONTROPICAL SPRUE (CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC STEATORRHEA): THEIR PROBABLE INTERRELATIONSHIP

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Abstract
The author, in reviewing 32 cases of nontropicaJ sprue at the Mayo Clinic, found that 20 patients had identical symptoms and signs as those having tropical sprue; they responded to the use of liver extract. The remaining 12 patients showed, in addition, tetany, osteoporosis, hypoproteinemia and various vit. deficiencies; this suggested that these were recognized too late in order to find the typical sprue symptoms and signs. Therefore, distinctions between tropical sprue, nontropical sprue and idiopathic steatorrhea are largely artificial and the difference is due chiefly to late diagnosis and inadequate treatment. The sprue syndrome is not uncommon in temperate climates.

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