Fitz-Hugh–Curtis syndrome
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Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is a rare complication of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) named after the two physicians, Thomas Fitz-Hugh, Jr and Arthur Hale Curtis who first reported this condition in 1934 and 1930 respectively.[1][2][3] It involves liver capsule inflammation.[4]
[edit] Pathophysiology
Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome occurs almost exclusively in women. It is usually caused by gonorrhoea (acute gonococcal perihepatitis) or chlamydia bacteria, which cause a thinning of cervical mucus and allow bacteria from the vagina into the uterus and oviducts, causing infection and inflammation. Occasionally, this inflammation can cause scar tissue to form on Glisson's capsule, a thin layer of connective tissue surrounding the liver.
[edit] Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms are an acute onset, upper right-quadrant abdominal pain and tenderness aggravated by breathing, coughing or movement, and referred to the right shoulder following an episode of PID. Laparoscopy may reveal "violin string" adhesions of parietal peritoneum to liver.
[edit] Treatment
Treatment involves diagnosing and treating the underlying cause correctly. The lysis of adhesions may be performed laparoscopically.
[edit] References
- ^ synd/3324 at Who Named It?
- ^ Fitz-Hugh Jr T. Acute gonococcic peritonitis of the right upper quadrant in women. J Am Med Assoc 1934;102:2094-2096.
- ^ Curtis AH. A cause of adhesion in the right upper quadrant. JAMA 1930;94:1221-122.
- ^ Peter, N. G.; Clark, L. R.; Jaeger, J. R. (2004). "Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome: a diagnosis to consider in women with right upper quadrant pain". Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine 71 (3): 233–239. doi:10.3949/ccjm.71.3.233. PMID 15055246. edit
[edit] External links
