BACKGROUND Fitz-Hugh-Curtis (FHC) syndrome is a perihepatitis linked to 
inflammatory pelvic disease. It can be caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae or 
Chlamydia trachomatis infections. FHC syndrome usually presents with pain in the 
right hypochondrium and fever, associated with symptoms and signs of pelvic 
infection in women. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 22-year-old woman with 
systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) who presented with polyarthritis, cutaneous 
lesions, and abdominal pain. The diagnosis of FHC syndrome was based on the 
findings of abdominal computerized tomography (CT) and the isolation of 
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) in blood cultures. The association of arthritis and 
cutaneous lesions was diagnosed as a syndrome of arthritis-dermatitis, also 
caused by systemic NG infection. The patient had a favorable outcome with 
antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS FHC syndrome should be considered in sexually 
active young patients, mainly women, with pelvic infection and perihepatitis. It 
may be caused by disseminated gonococcal infection. An important risk factor is 
the serum complement deficit, which may predispose to severe forms. Low serum 
complement level is a frequent manifestation of active SLE. CT images showing 
the typical findings of perihepatitis allow making the correct diagnosis.