[Lymphogranuloma venereum: an emerging cause of proctitis in homosexual men in Barcelona].
OBJECTIVE
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a systemic sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L. Since 2003, outbreaks of LGV have been reported in homosexual men in Europe. The objective of this study is to describe an outbreak of LGV in Barcelona in 2007.


METHODS
Description of a clinical case series of confirmed LGV diagnosed in the STI clinic of Barcelona between September 2007 and January 2008.


RESULTS
Seven cases have been confirmed up to January 31, 2008. All were homosexual men, with a mean age of 36, who were sexually promiscuous. Mean time of symptoms of proctitis was 28 days. All the patients were coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for an average period of 5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
This outbreak is similar to other LGV outbreaks that are occurring in Europe. LGV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of proctitis in homosexual men and be treated with 100 mg of doxycycline/12 hours for three weeks. Preventive interventions directed at HIV infected persons are important.
Unidad de Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual, Centro de Atención Primaria Drassanes, Barcelona, España. mvall.bcn.ics@gencat.cat
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Vall-Mayans
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Caballero
D000328:Adult; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008219:Lymphogranuloma Venereum / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011349:Proctitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013030:Spain; D014505:Urban Population