Chlamydia trachomatis Infection: Is It Relevant in Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

• Published in: Digestion Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 157 - 159
• Main Authors: Francis, Carol, Prior, Alison, Whorwell, P.J., Morris, Julie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.03.1998; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Chlamydia Infections - complications; Chlamydia Infections - microbiology; Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydia trachomatis - immunology; Colonic Diseases, Functional - epidemiology; Colonic Diseases, Functional - etiology; Colonic Diseases, Functional - microbiology; Data Interpretation, Statistical; England - epidemiology; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Genital Diseases, Female - complications; Genital Diseases, Female - microbiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Original Paper; Other diseases. Semiology; Prevalence; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; England; Irritable bowel syndrome; Chlamydial infection; Human; Measurement; Seropositivity; Chlamydiaceae; Antibody; Chlamydia trachomatis; Differential diagnostic; Female genital diseases; Infection; Symptomatology; Female genital system; Bacteriosis; Chlamydiales; Digestive diseases; Bacteria; Intestinal disease; Female; Chlamydiosis; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0012-2823; 1421-9867
• DOI: 10.1159/000007481

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome can present with gynaecological symptoms similar to those of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, which is commonly caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Infection with this organism might therefore lead to diagnostic and management difficulties in patients, not only as a result of symptom overlap between the two disorders but also because chlamydial infection might exacerbate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. This study was designed to investigate any possible link between chlamydial infection and irritable bowel syndrome. Patients/Methods: The prevalence of antibodies to C. trachomatis and abdominal symptomatology was assessed in a group of 100 female patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 100 matched female controls. Results: 25% of patients and 17% of controls were found to have evidence of previous chlamydial infection. This difference was not statistically significant. Within the patient group, no association was found between chlamydial infection and any particular pattern of symptomatology. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that occult chlamydial infection is not a major problem in irritable bowel syndrome and that routine investigation for this organism is unnecessary. They also provide some reassurance that pelvic inflammatory disease and all its potentially serious consequences is not being significantly overlooked in gastroenterological practice.