Peritonitis, moderate ascites and hepatitis due to infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and Epstein-Barr virus in a young woman. Diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction from peritoneal tissue.

Perihepatitis with ascites is a well-known presentation of pelvic inflammatory disease due to Chlamydia trachomatis. Diagnosis is based on the presence of IgM antibodies or positive culture from cervical samples or ascites. We describe a young woman with a concomitant infection of C. trachomatis and Epstein-Barr virus presenting with fever, hepatitis and ascites. Cultures remained negative and other tests were--at first--inconclusive. Diagnosis was ultimately established by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and RNA in situ hybridisation of peritoneal tissue obtained at laparoscopy.