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Celiac Sprue
This short video segment was taken during a gastroscopy examination
of the duodenum, or upper small intestine, in a patient who has
celiac disease, or sprue. Affecting approximately 1 in 200
Americans, sprue is a food allergy to gluten, a dietary
protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When a patient with
sprue eats a food containing gluten, such as a slice of bread,
the allergic reaction damages the delicate inner lining of the
small intestine. This damage decreases one's ability to absorb
nutrition from the diet which can lead to malabsorption of
calories, vitamins, and minerals. Patients with mild sprue often
have unexplained iron deficiency anemia. More severe cases
suffer from weight loss and diarrhea. If suspected, blood tests
can be done to screen for this disease. A biopsy of the
duodenum is also often done to confirm the diagnosis and help
assess the severity of the injury. As in this brief video,
subtle changes can be seen during gastroscopy such as the minor
irregularity and notching of duodenal folds. This notching gives
the doctor a clue that sprue may be present, but only after an
examination under the microscope can he be certain.
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