Lympogranuloma venereum (LGV) is an aggressive, sexually transmitted infection caused by specific strains of Chlamydia trachomatis
The L1, L2, and L3 strains are more invasive than those causing most anogenital infections.1–4 Before 2004, LGV was rare in Canada, but has since become endemic. Between 2013 and 2020, 2052 C. trachomatis isolates forwarded to the National Microbiology Laboratory tested positive for LGV-causing strains (Dr. Alberto Severini, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg: personal communication, 2021). Outbreaks continue in Western Europe and North America, and primarily affect men who have sex with men.2–6
Lympogranuloma venereum can have variable presentations that can be misdiagnosed
Though LGV can be asymptomatic, the most common presentation is proctitis syndrome, whereby direct anal inoculation results in painful hemorrhagic proctitis, often mimicking inflammatory bowel disease.1–6 In inguinal syndrome, however, infection usually begins with a painless papule, and subsequently progresses to ulceration and inguinal lymphadenopathy.1,4 Systemic symptoms, such as fever, malaise and arthralgia, are often present.2–6
People with symptoms suggestive of LGV, or risk factors, should be tested for C. trachomatis using a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)
Swabs should be inserted 2 to 3 cm into the anal canal; alternatively, swabs can be collected by direct visualization during anoscopy. Lymph node aspirates and swabs of suspicious genital lesions can also be sent for NAAT. In many Canadian centres, rectal swabs positive for C. trachomatis will automatically undergo further testing for LGV serovars.
Treatment for LGV is longer than for other forms of chlamydia
Canadian guidelines1 recommend oral doxycycline (100 mg, twice a day) for 21 days as first-line treatment. A test of cure should be performed 3 weeks after completion of treatment. Left untreated, LGV can lead to irreversible tissue destruction, scarring, fistulae and lymphatic obstruction.1–6
Sexual partners should be treated empirically with the same regimen as a diagnosed case, pending test results
All sexual partners within 60 days of a patient’s symptom onset should also be tested for LGV; those who test positive require further clinical follow-up, including test of cure and public health investigation.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr. Alberto Severini and the staff of the Viral Exanthemata and STD Program at the National Microbiology Laboratory for providing national testing data.
Footnotes
Competing interests: Troy Grennan reports institutional funding from Merck and Gilead, outside the submitted work. No other competing interests were declared.
This article has been peer reviewed.
This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original publication is properly cited, the use is noncommercial (i.e., research or educational use), and no modifications or adaptations are made. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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- Lympogranuloma venereum (LGV) is an aggressive, sexually transmitted infection caused by specific strains of Chlamydia trachomatis
- Lympogranuloma venereum can have variable presentations that can be misdiagnosed
- People with symptoms suggestive of LGV, or risk factors, should be tested for C. trachomatis using a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)
- Treatment for LGV is longer than for other forms of chlamydia
- Sexual partners should be treated empirically with the same regimen as a diagnosed case, pending test results
- Acknowledgments
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