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Hi all, with many scientific definitions the real is often less interesting
than the fanciful. "Sprue" is derived from the Dutch word "sprouw", meaning
"a kind of tumour". Sorry to disappoint those who thought it may have a
more interesting derivation. To be an even bigger wet blanket for those of
you who have DH and thought "herpetiformis" might have something to do with
lizards, in fact it means "resembling Herpes".
cheers
Phil
 
Philip Sheard
Developmental Biology Unit,
Department of Physiology,
University of Otago Medical School,
Dunedin, New Zealand.
Ph (64 3) 479-7344
Fax (64 3) 479-7323