[Chlamydia trachomatis antibody in Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome].
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.
Choi
Tae Yeal
TY
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. tychoi@hanyang.ac.kr
Kang
Jung Oak
JO
Chung
Sung Ro
SR
Ahn
Youhern
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013577:Syndrome; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M