Researchers of the Baylor College of Medicine (USA) have made significant progress in understanding and treating endometriosisa painful disease that affects almost 200 million women worldwide. The findings, published in the journal ‘Med‘, could lead to the development of a non-invasive stool-based test and a new therapy for the disease.
Endometriosis occurs when the lining of the uterus grows outside its usual place, for example attached to the intestine or abdominal cavity, causing bleeding, pain, inflammation and infertility. Its diagnosis usually takes about seven years and, in many cases, it is confused with intestinal disorders, which underlines the need for more effective diagnosis and less invasive treatments.
The study focused on the role of microbiome —the communities of bacteria in the body— and their metabolites in the development of endometriosis. The researchers compared the bacteria and metabolites present in the feces of women with endometriosis with those of healthy women, finding significant differences.
One of the key findings was the identification of a metabolite called 4-hydroxyindole, which is produced by beneficial bacteria. However, In women with endometriosis, the levels of this compound were lower. This combination of unique bacterial metabolites could serve as the basis for a non-invasive diagnostic test and help reduce disease progression.
“This discovery is exciting because it is the first specific metabolite profile related to human endometriosis,” he says. Rama Kommaganisenior author of the study and associate professor in Baylor’s Department of Pathology and Immunology. “It brings us closer to a better understanding of the disease and the possibility of improving its control.”
Studies in animal models have also shown that administration of 4-hydroxyindole prevents inflammation and pain related to endometriosis. Furthermore, the metabolite profile of endometriosis was found to be similar to that of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), suggesting possible connections between both diseases.
Researchers are now working on developing the non-invasive test and are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of 4-hydroxyindole as a potential treatment for endometriosis.
This advance offers hope for earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments for a disease that affects millions of women around the world.
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