Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2012 Feb;55(2):104-109. 10.5468/KJOG.2012.55.2.104.

Comparison between Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome and uncomplicated pelvic inflammatory disease

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Myongji Hospital, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea. silverstar51@naver.com

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical characteristics, hematologic findings, microbiologic results of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS) to uncomplicated pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 41 patients of FHCS and 52 patients of uncomplicated PID in Myongji Hospital from January 2007 to August 2011. Between the two groups, we compared clinical manifestations, physical examination findings, hematologic findings, microbiologic study findings, abdomen and pelvic computed tomography.
RESULTS
FHCS accounted for 14.3% of total cases of pelvic inflammatory disease at our medical institution. Patients of both groups visited with a chief complaint of abdominal pain. The most common symptom was the right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain (78.0%) in the FHCS group and the pelvic pain (75%) in the uncomplicated PID group. The incidence of pelvic organ tenderness and cervical motion tenderness was lower in the FHCS group as compared with the uncomplicated PID group. FHCS group was associated with significantly higher C-reactive protein level in comparison to that of uncomplicated PID group (P = 0.0175). In addition, higher incidence of chlamydial infection was noted in FHCS group.
CONCLUSION
The typical signs of PID were not evident in some cases of FHCS. A gynecologic approach would therefore be mandatory for further evaluation and treatment in women who visited with a chief complaint of the acute RUQ pain.

Keyword

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome; Pelvic inflammatory disease; Chlamydia trachomatis

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Abdominal Pain
C-Reactive Protein
Chlamydia Infections
Chlamydia trachomatis
Female
Hepatitis
Humans
Incidence
Medical Records
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic Pain
Peritonitis
Physical Examination
Retrospective Studies
C-Reactive Protein
Chlamydia Infections
Hepatitis
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Peritonitis

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Arterial phase of abdomino-pelvic contrast-enhanced computed tomography of a 37-year-old woman who complaint right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Hepatic capsular enhancement is seen at the surface of the medial segment and the lateral aspect of the right lobe.


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