[Circumscribed peritonitis of genital origin or gonococcal perihepatitis Fitz-Hugh Curtis syndrome (author's transl)]

Circumscribed peritonitis with perihepatitis resulting from previous female gonococcal infection is now commmonly known as Fitz-Hugh Curtis (FHC) syndrome. Contamination of the peritoneum through the Fallopian tubes and the fact that the gonococcal inflammation (frequency, though not always confirmed) remains superficial with little production of pus explain why the perihepatic lesions are fibrinous, adhesion-forming and tend to subside spontanesouly. The pathophysiological mechanisms, however, are complicated by recent reports of FHC syndrome in males. Beside Neisseria gonorrhoeae, other organisms growing in the genital tract are probably involved. When necessary, coelio-laparoscopy is the method of choice to confirm the diagnosis. The four cases reported here illustrate the various symptomatic and evolutive aspects of the syndrome.