Perihepatitis associated with salpingitis in adolescents
I. F. Litt and M. I. Cohen
Perihepatitis, one manifestation of complicated gonorrhea, is infrequently
diagnosed and reported. This study was undertaken to examine the incidence
of gonococcal perihepatitis in adolescents as well as to study the effect,
if any, of this condition on tests of liver function. Accordingly, the
records of 137 adolescents with salpingitis were evaluated. Right upper
quadrant tenderness or hepatic enlargement was noted in 27, while amino
transferase level elevations were observed in 19 of the 59 in whom these
tests were performed. All findings resolved promptly following initiation
of intravenous penicillin therapy. The observation of hepatic dysfunction
in 27% of these adolescents suggests that perihepatitis occurs more
frequently than reported in adults and should be considered in the
evaluation of the conditions of adolescents with salpingitis or upper
abdominal tenderness.
