Korean J Lab Med.  2008 Aug;28(4):293-298. 10.3343/kjlm.2008.28.4.293.

Chlamydia trachomatis Antibody in Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome

• Choi TY
• Kang JO
• Chung SR
• Ahn Y

• KMID: 854892
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/kjlm.2008.28.4.293

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fitz-Hugh-Curtis (FHC) syndrome is inflammation of the liver capsule associated with pelvic inflammatory disease. We measured Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies in 30 female patients with acute abdominal pain for diagnosis of FHC-syndrome, and the results were compared with other tests. METHODS: A dual-polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection of C. trachomatis in the cervix, and a micro-immunofluorescence test was performed to measure the antibody to C. trachomatis in serum. Cervical specimens were stained with Gram stain and cultured on chocolate agar for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) and pelvic examinations were performed. RESULTS: Of the 30 patients examined, 19 were diagnosed as having FHC-syndromes and 11 abdominal pains without FHC-syndrome. C. trachomatis was detected from one of the five patients studied, and no N. gonorrhoeae was isolated from the patients with FHC-syndrome. High titers of IgG antibody (1:512-1:1,024) to C. trachomatis were demonstrated in all patients with FHC-syndrome. The CT scan revealed perihepatitis in 14 patients with FHC-syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: All patients with FHC-syndrome are associated with C. trachomatis infections, and a high titer of C. trachomatis antibody (IgG) is a very useful marker for FHC-syndrome.

Keyword

Chlamydia trachomatis; Fitz-Hugh-Curtis (FHC) syndrome; pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Antibodies, Bacterial/*analysis
Cervix Uteri/chemistry
Chlamydia Infections/*diagnosis/microbiology
Chlamydia trachomatis/*immunology/isolation & purification
Female
Hepatitis/diagnosis
Humans
Immunoglobulin G/analysis
Immunoglobulin M/analysis
Middle Aged
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease/complications/*diagnosis
Syndrome
Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
Young Adult

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