A Case of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome

Nam, Y S; Lee, S H; Kwak, I P; Yoon, T K; Cha, K Y

Abstract

Five to ten percent of women with acute pelvic inflammatory disease develop symptoms of perihepatic inflammation --- the Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. The condition is often mistakenly diagnosed as either pneumonia or acute cholecystitis. Persistent symptoms and signs include right upper quadrant pain, pleuritic pain, and tenderness in the right upper quadrant when the liver is palpated. Liver transaminases may be elevated. Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome develops from transperitoneal or vascular dissemination of either the gonococcus or chlamydia organism to produce the perihepatic inflammation. Currently, chlamydia produces the majority of cases. Other organisms, including anaerobic streptococci and coxsackievirus, have also been associated with this syndrome. Laparoscopy may be useful in the diagnosis of this syndrome. The liver capsule will appear inflamed with classic ""violin"" string adhesions to the parietal peritoneum beneath the diaphragm. Treatment is the same as the treatment for salpingitis. We have experienced a case of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome associated with hydrosalpinx and succeeded in pregnancy using in vitro fertilization. So we report this case with a brief review of literatures.