Distinguishing tropical sprue from celiac disease in returning travellers with chronic diarrhoea: a diagnostic challenge?

Abstract

Background: Within the present era of worldwide travel, it is important for all clinicians to consider the possibility of tropical sprue (TS) in returning patients with persistent diarrhoea after travel. The symptoms and histologic findings of TS can resemble but also be confused with celiac disease (CD).

Material and method: Patients at our institute diagnosed with CD or TS in the period January 2000-December 2010 were eligible for inclusion. Of all patients, demographic, clinical, laboratory and endoscopy data on admission and in follow-up were collected retrospectively.

Results: 28 CD and 7 TS patients were included. There were no differences in baseline clinical characteristics, duration of stay in a tropical region or in laboratory findings on admission. However, in the majority of CD patients antibodies against endomysium (EMA) or tissue transglutaminase (tTG) were present at presentation but absent in all TS patients at presentation.

Conclusions: In returning travellers with persistent diarrhoea, a diagnosis of CD is unlikely in case of absence of anti-EMA or anti-tTG antibodies but conversely increases the likelihood of TS. This distinct immunoserological profile may be of help in selecting the optimal treatment in returning travelers with chronic diarrhoea after staying in a tropical region.

Keywords: Celiac disease; Diarrhoea; Sprue; Traveller.