Question

Describe histopathologics Findings of :
Tropical sprue.

Hint:

Tropical sprue typically presents with mild to moderate villous atrophy and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes, which help differentiate it from celiac disease.

Answer 1

Tropical sprue is a malabsorptive disorder often seen in tropical regions and involves the small intestine. The histopathologic findings are typically:
Step 1: Villous Atrophy:
1. Mild to moderate villous atrophy is present, though it is less severe compared to celiac disease.
2. The villi appear flattened or shortened, which contributes to malabsorption.
Step 2: Increased Intraepithelial Lymphocytes:
1. Similar to celiac disease, there is an increase in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes, although it is typically less pronounced.
Step 3: Crypt Hyperplasia:
1. There is also crypt hyperplasia, which is a compensatory response to villous atrophy.