Long-term or maintenance adrenal steroid therapy in non-tropical sprue

1. 1. Low dosage long-term or maintenance adrenal steroid therapy is recommended for the management of selected patients with severe, intractable sprue. 2. 2. Six patients with severe non-tropical sprue have responded well to this form of therapy. 3. 3. These patients require a small maintenance dose of adrenal steroids in order to maintain optimum health and will relapse if this dose is reduced or discontinued. 4. 4. Despite prolonged therapy (over six years in one case), no adverse effects have been detected in these patients. 5. 5. The mechanism of action of adrenal steroids in sprue is discussed.