eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Bacterial Infections

Lymphogranuloma Venereum: Follow-up

Author: Jose Antonio Plaza, MD, Director of Dermatopathology, Department of Pathology, Froedtert Hospital; Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Section of Dermatopathology, Medical College of Wisconsin
Coauthor(s): Victor G Prieto, MD, PhD, Director of Dermatopathology, Professor, Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Sep 2, 2009

Follow-up

Complications

  • Complications usually arise from progression to the third stage of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). Scarring and local tissue destruction is the rule, with stricture and fistula formations and deformation of genitalia. Complete bowel obstruction from rectal stricture is possible.
  • Systemic spread occasionally can result in arthritis, pneumonitis, hepatitis, or, rarely, perihepatitis.
  • Rare systemic complications include pulmonary infection, cardiac involvement, aseptic meningitis, and ocular inflammatory disease.

Prognosis

  • Prognosis is excellent if lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is treated early; however, late complications can cause significant morbidity.

Patient Education

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • The diagnosis of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) should not preclude a thorough search for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (eg, granuloma inguinale, syphilis, chancroid) that may be cured by different treatment modalities. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics to replace an accurate differential diagnosis and focused treatment should be discouraged.
  • The diagnosis of LGV may be missed easily in women and homosexual males because they tend not to present with the classic inguinal lymphadenopathy. Careful diagnostic consideration should be used in these patient populations.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors, Jennifer D. Lorek, MD, Scott M. Acker, MD, Peter Langenstroer, MD, and Milton W. Datta, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Lymphogranuloma Venereum

Overview: Lymphogranuloma Venereum
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Lymphogranuloma Venereum
Treatment & Medication: Lymphogranuloma Venereum
Follow-up: Lymphogranuloma Venereum
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

lymphogranuloma venereum, LGV, Chlamydia trachomatis, C trachomatis, STD, sexually transmitted chlamydial disease, sexually transmitted disease, chlamydia

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Jose Antonio Plaza, MD, Director of Dermatopathology, Department of Pathology, Froedtert Hospital; Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Section of Dermatopathology, Medical College of Wisconsin
Jose Antonio Plaza, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association and American Society for Clinical Pathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Victor G Prieto, MD, PhD, Director of Dermatopathology, Professor, Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Victor G Prieto, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Medical Association, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Society of Dermatopathology, College of American Pathologists, European Society of Pathology, International Society of Dermatopathology, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Terry L Barrett, MD, Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine; Director, ProPath Dermatopathology, Dallas, Texas
Terry L Barrett, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, American Medical Association, American Society of Dermatopathology, College of American Pathologists, and United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Lester F Libow, MD, Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory
Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE, Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds None; Genentech Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Centocor Grant/research funds None; Covance Consulting fee Consulting; Shire  Consulting

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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