Immunological Investigations in Tropical Sprue in Porto Rico

Abstract

Summary An investigation was made to determine whether the untoward gastro-intestinal reactions observed in sprue patients (diarrhoea, tympanites, flatulence, etc.) after eating certain types of food might be of the nature of specific hypersensitiveness. A careful survey was made of the foods commonly eaten by the people of Porto Rico and representative types were selected for cutaneous tests. These include proteins prepared from rice, beans, pork, cod-fish, cocoanut, etc., sugars (saccharose and fructose), fats and oils (lard, butter, etc.), starches prepared from rice potatoes, beans, etc., and local spices and coffee. Our results were clearly negative and indicate that the untoward digestive symptoms of sprue patients are not due to any specific sensitization to any food products.