Chronic Lymphogranuloma Venereum Proctocolitis Masquerading as Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Rectal infection with the L1, L2, and L3 serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis can cause lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) proctocolitis, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). Symptoms of this sexually transmitted infection include anal pain, rectal bleeding and discharge, tenesmus, constipation, and fever. Clinicians should consider LGV when there is a history of receptive anal intercourse and symptoms of proctocolitis. A positive nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) on a rectal sample is diagnostic. This report describes a man with HIV and chronic proctocolitis in whom the diagnosis of LGV was delayed because the clinical picture mimicked inflammatory bowel disease.