Tropical sprue laboratory findings
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Laboratory Findings
All the patients with celiac disease unresponsive to gluten free diet, a diagnosis of tropical sprue must be considered. The lab findings are not specific for tropical sprue as it is a diagnosis of exlclusion.
- Patients with ileal involvement have low vitamin B12 levels
- Normal transglutaminase levels are present.
Approach to a Patient With Malabsorption in Tropical Region
Clinical suspicion of malabsoption syndrome | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Initial screening perform: Hemogram Stool Microscopy D-xylose test Fecal fat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Confirmatory tests for malabsoption should be done | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Antiendomysial antibodies and villous atrophy suggests celiac disease Breath test for lactase deficiency Microscopy and culture of jejunal aspirate for small bowel bacterial overgrowth Serum immunoglobulin for B-celll deficiency HIV serology | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Once all other possibilities are ruled out, then the diagnosis of tropical sprue is confirmed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||