Journal List > Korean J Lab Med > v.28(4) > 1011482

Choi, Kang, Chung, and Ahn: Chlamydia trachomatis Antibody in Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome

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.

REFERENCES

1.Keum DG., Chey YS., Kim SK., Choi TY., Kim CW., Kim KH. Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis inclusions in McCoy cell cultures. Korean J Clin Pathol. 1986. 6:429–32. (금동극, 최영식, 김신규, 최태열, 김춘원, 김기홍. 세포배양법을이용한 Chlamydia trachomatis 봉입체검출에관한고찰. 대한임상병리학회지 1986;6: 429-32.).
2.Chernesky M., Luinstra K., Sellors J., Schachter J., Moncada J., Caul O, et al. Can serology diagnose upper genital tract Chlamydia trachomatis infection? Studies on women with pelvic pain, with or without chlamydial plasmid DNA in endometrial biopsy tissue. Sex Transm Dis. 1998. 25:14–9.
3.Kobayashi Y., Takeuchi H., Kitade M., Kikuchi I., Sato Y., Kinoshita K. Pathological study of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome evaluated from fallopian tube damage. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2006. 32:280–5.
crossref
4.Peter NG., Clark LR., Jaeger JR. Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome: a diagnosis to consider in women with right upper quadrant pain. Cleve Clin J Med. 2004. 71:233–9.
crossref
5.Marbet UA., Stalder GA., Vogtlin J., Loosli J., Frei A., Althaus B, et al. Diffuse peritonitis and chronic ascites due to infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in patients without liver disease: new presentation of the Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1986. 293:5–6.
6.Cho HJ., Kim HK., Suh JH., Lee GJ., Shim JC., Kim YH. Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome: CT findings of three cases. Emerg Radiol. 2008. 15:43–6.
crossref
7.Kim S., Kim TU., Lee JW., Lee TH., Lee SH., Jeon TY, et al. The perihepatic space: comprehensive anatomy and CT features of pathologic conditions. Radiographics. 2007. 27:129–43.
crossref
8.Kim SE., Choi TY., Kim S., Kim KS. Serodiagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections by the micro-immunofluorescence test. Korean J Clin Pathol. 1999. 19:522–8. (김선의, 최태열, 김신경, 김경숙. Chlamydia trachomatis 감염의혈청학적진단. 대한임상병리학회지 1999;19: 522-8.).
9.Newhall WJ., Batteiger B., Jones RB. Analysis of the human serological response to proteins of Chlamydia trachomatis. Infect Immun. 1982. 38:1181–9.
10.Wang SP., Eschenbach DA., Holmes KK., Wager G., Grayston JT. Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1980. 138:1034–8.
11.Ossewaarde JM., Rieffe M., Rozenberg-Arska M., Ossenkoppele PM., Nawrocki RP., van Loon AM. Development and clinical evaluation of a polymerase chain reaction test for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. J Clin Microbiol. 1992. 30:2122–8.
12.Risser WL., Risser JM., Benjamins LJ., Feldmann JM. Incidence of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome in adolescents who have pelvic inflammatory disease. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2007. 20:179–80.
crossref
13.Lee SC., Nah BG., Kim HS., Choi TH., Lee SH., Lee JY, et al. Two cases of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome in acute phase. Korean J Gastroenterol. 2005. 45:137–42. (이승찬, 나병규, 김현승, 최태혁, 이세형, 이종영등. 급성기 Fitz-Fugh-Curtis 증후군 2예. 대한소화기학회지 2005;45: 137-42.).
14.Wagenvoort JH., Koumans D., van de Cruijs M. How useful is the Chlamydia micro-immunofluorescence (MIF) test for the gynaecologist? Eur J Obstet Gynecol and Reprod Biol. 1999. 84:13–5.
crossref
15.Verkooyen RP., Hazenberg MA., Van Haaren GH., Van den Bosch JM., Snijder RJ., Van Helden HP, et al. Age-related interference with Chlamydia pneumoniae microimmunofluorescence serology due to circulating rheumatoid factor. J Clin Microbiol. 1992. 30:1287–90.
16.Wang S. The microimmunofluorescence test for Chlamydia pneumoniae infection: technique and interpretation. J Infect Dis. 2000. 181(S):S421–5.

Table 1.
Characteristics of female patients with acute abdominal pain
No. case Age Dept IgG/IgM PEx CT PCR Culture Final diagnosis
1 46 GE 512/8 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
2 25 GE 512/8 PID PH P NG FHC-syndrome
3 23 GE 512/8 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
4 33 GE 1,024/8 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
5 21 GE 512/8 PID PH N NG FHC-syndrome
6 27 GE 512/16 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
7 37 GE 512/8 PID PH N NG FHC-syndrome
8 17 OG 1,024/8 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
9 29 GE 512/8 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
10 39 GE 1,024/8 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
11 22 GE 512/8 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
12 25 GE 512/8 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
13 21 GE 512/8 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
14 23 GE 1,024/8 PID PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
15 26 GE 1,024/8 PID No PH N NG FHC-syndrome
16 19 GE 512/8 PID No PH N NG FHC-syndrome
17 31 GE 1,024/8 PID No PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
18 26 GE 1,024/64 PID No PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
19 30 GE 1,024/8 PID No PH NT NG FHC-syndrome
20 23 GE 128/8 No PID PH NT NT Cholecystitis
21 26 GE 8/8 No PID No PH NT NT Cholecystitis
22 19 GE 8/8 No PID PH NT NT Pneumonia
23 20 GE 8/8 No PID NT NT NT Intestinal diverticulum
24 28 GE 8/8 No PID NT NT NT Intestinal diverticulum
25 31 GE 8/8 No PID NT NT NT Gastroesophageal reflux
26 25 GE 32/8 No PID NT NT NT Chronic hepatitis
27 40 GE 8/8 No PID NT NT NT Ileus
28 14 PD 8/8 No PID NT NT NT Acute pyelonephritis
29 67 NE 8/8 No PID NT NT NT Acute pyelonephritis
30 25 GE 32/8 No PID NT NT NT Hepatitis

, Antibody titers of immnonoglobulin G and M to C. trachomatis;

, PCR for C. trachomatis;

, Culture of N. gonrrhoeae.

Abbreviations: Dept, Department; GE, Gastroenterology; OG, Obstetrics and Gynecology; NE, Nephrology; PD, Pediatrics; PEx, Pelvic examination; PID, Pelvic inflammatory diseases; NG, No growth; N, Negative; P, Positive; NT, Not tested; CT, Computed tomography; PH, perihepatitis; FHC, Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome.

TOOLS
Similar articles