[ad_1]
- A new report reveals that the painful condition of endometriosis may be linked to a bacterial infection.
- A bacterium called Fusobacteria was found in 60% of women with endometriosis in one study.
- The results suggest that microbes may play a role in the development of endometriosis, but more research is needed to understand the relationship.
Scientists may have discovered a potential cause of endometriosis, a painful condition in which the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus.
A new reportPosted in Science Translational Medicine On Wednesday, detected a bacterium, called Fusobacteria, in more than 60% of women with endometriosis.
The researchers also tested treatments on mice and found that antibiotics targeting Fusobacteria may reduce the size and frequency of lesions associated with endometriosis.
But
Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of women, however, the causes are poorly understood.
Researchers hope the findings will lead to new treatment options for people with endometriosis, as the condition is notoriously difficult to treat. diagnose and treat.
“This study showing that there is a potential infectious etiology transforming normal cells into inflammatory cells triggering endometriosis is extremely interesting because targeted antibiotic therapy will certainly help to decrease symptomatic disease,” said Dr. David Dukethe director of gynecology and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at Staten Island University Hospital, told Healthline.
The researchers recruited 155 women in Japan, of whom 79 had endometriosis and 76 who did not.
They took vaginal swabs from the participants and found that about 64% of women with endometriosis tested positive for a bacteria called Fusobacteria.
Of those who did not have endometriosis, 7% tested positive for Fusobacteria.
“The presence of this bacterium in vaginal swab specimens from patients with endometriosis was significantly higher than in patients without endometriosis,” Dr. Jane Fredericka reproductive endocrinologist specializing in fertility and infertility and medical director of HRC Fertility in Orange County, Calif., said.
The researchers then conducted experiments in mice to further explore if and how Fusobacteria may contribute to endometriosis.
They implanted endometrial tissue from one group of mice into the abdominal cavity of another group of mice.
Within weeks, endometriotic lesions formed in the mice that received the transplanted tissue.
The research team also found that mice that had also been inoculated with Fusobacteria had more lesions which also tended to be larger.
The researchers investigated whether certain antibiotics given vaginally could reduce the size and frequency of lesions associated with endometriosis.
They found that antibiotics reduced the amount of Fusobacteria in mice and appeared to delay the development of endometriosis and reduce the number and size of lesions.
The researchers say the report suggests that antibiotics could be an effective treatment for some cases of endometriosis.
More research is needed to better understand why this bacteria can cause endometriosis and how antibiotics can help treat the condition.
A clinical trial in women is currently underway to determine if antibiotics can help with endometriosis.
dr. Steve Vasileva board-certified integrative gynecologic oncologist and medical director of integrative gynecologic oncology at Providence Saint John’s Health Center and professor at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., says these findings and the proposed mechanisms cannot not yet be applied to humans.
“However, it helps form a solid foundation of understanding for understanding how the microbiota And dysbiosis could lead to the formation and growth of endometriotic lesions,” Vasilev said.
The causes of endometriosis are not known.
“There are many causative factors, including possibly genetic, immunological, and hormonal reasons,” Frederick said.
Many researchers believe that retrograde menstruation – which occurs when the period of menstrual blood flows upward through the fallopian tubes and in the pelvis instead of coming out of your vagina – contributes to endometriosis, however, many women with endometriosis are unaware of this phenomenon.
Although most women of childbearing age have retrograde periods, only a small percentage (10-15%) develop endometriosis.
According to the new findings, other mechanisms, such as microbes, may be at play.
“Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease, and its cause is difficult to attribute to a single factor,” says Frederick.
Because the causes of endometriosis are unclear, it can be difficult to treat the condition.
Currently, hormonal drugs – as birth control — and surgery to remove the affected tissue are the most common treatments for endometriosis.
“The cause of endometriosis is unknown, which is why this type of research is conducted,” says Herzog.
Some evidence shows that there is a strong link between endometriosis and endometritisinflammation of the uterine lining, which can be caused by infections.
“This article links opportunistic bacterial species Fusobacteria to this inflammatory state,” says Vasilev, adding that the report also highlights how inflammation could contribute to the genesis of endometriosis.
Fusobacteria has been implicated in oral and gastroenterological infections and, potentially, neoplastic conditions as well, Herzog says.
“The bottom line is that any process that inflames ectopic endometrial glands, creating an inflammatory environment, can contribute to the pain and infertility associated with endometriosis,” Herzog says.
New research indicates that a bacterium, known as Fusobacteria, can be a potential cause of endometriosis. The bacteria was detected in more than 60% of women with endometriosis, while only 7% of women without endometriosis tested positive. According to the results, antibiotics may be an effective treatment for endometriosis, however, further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms behind endometriosis.
|
Sources 2/ https://www.healthline.com/health-news/endometriosis-may-be-caused-by-this-bacteria The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
[ad_2]