title: Chlamydia trachomatis infection: is it relevant in irritable bowel syndrome?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irritable bowel syndrome can present with gynaecological symptoms similar to those of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, which is commonly caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Infection with this organism might therefore lead to diagnostic and management difficulties in patients, not only as a result of symptom overlap between the two disorders but also because chlamydial infection might exacerbate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. This study was designed to investigate any possible link between chlamydial infection and irritable bowel syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of antibodies to C. trachomatis and abdominal symptomatology was assessed in a group of 100 female patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 100 matched female controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  25% of patients and 17% of controls were found to have evidence of previous chlamydial infection. This difference was not statistically significant. Within the patient group, no association was found between chlamydial infection and any particular pattern of symptomatology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that occult chlamydial infection is not a major problem in irritable bowel syndrome and that routine investigation for this organism is unnecessary. They also provide some reassurance that pelvic inflammatory disease and all its potentially serious consequences is not being significantly overlooked in gastroenterological practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Whorwell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial