The Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome revisited. Changing perspectives after half a century.

Abstract

The Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is an extrapelvic manifestation of pelvic inflammatory disease. Classically it consists of adhesions between the liver capsule and the diaphragm or the anterior peritoneal surface. Two recent changes have been made in the assessment of this syndrome. One, the syndrome was originally thought to be caused solely by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Recent studies using tissue cultures and serum antibody titers have documented a major etiologic role for Chlamydia trachomatis as well. Two, the condition has recently been reported to exist in men, whereas previously it was believed to be limited to sexually active women in their reproductive years.