celiac sprue

An intestinal disease caused by intolerance to gluten, a mixture of proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. Also called celiac disease, nontropical sprue or gluten-induced enteropathy. The intestinal damage from this disease leads to malabsorption problems. Symptoms include weight loss, appetite loss, bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and weakness. Treatment often focuses on following a gluten-free diet, or avoiding food products containing wheat, buckwheat, rye, barley and oats.