Ranjan, PiyushGhoshal, Uday CAggarwal, RakeshPandey, RakeshMisra, AshaNaik, SitaNaik, Subhash R2004-05-152009-05-292004-05-152009-05-292004-05-15Ranjan P, Ghoshal UC, Aggarwal R, Pandey R, Misra A, Naik S, Naik SR. Etiological spectrum of sporadic malabsorption syndrome in northern Indian adults at a tertiary hospital. Indian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2004 May-Jun; 23(3): 94-8http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/63552BACKGROUND: The etiology of malabsorption syndrome (MAS) may differ in different geographical regions. Limited data are available on the etiological spectrum of MAS among Indian adults. METHODS: Ninety-nine consecutive adult patients with MAS (urine d-xylose <1 g/5 g/5 h with or without increased fecal fat (> or =7 g/24 h) were evaluated for cause of MAS using standard criteria. Past medical records were examined to know the nature of treatment received. RESULTS: The etiology of MAS was: tropical sprue 39, celiac disease 9, Crohn's disease 9, giardiasis 8, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in absence of another cause of MAS 8, panhypogammaglobulinemia 2 (one with strongyloidiasis), intestinal lymphangiectasia 1, intestinal tuberculosis 4, idiopathic 15, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome 2, and amyloidosis 2. Twenty-eight patients had received anti-tubercular treatment earlier. CONCLUSIONS: Tropical sprue, celiac disease and Crohn's disease are common causes of MAS in Indian adults. Inappropriate anti-tubercular treatment is common in them and needs to be discouraged.engAdultCeliac Disease --complicationsCrohn Disease --complicationsFemaleHumansIndia --epidemiologyMalabsorption Syndromes --epidemiologyMaleSprue, Tropical --complicationsJournal Article