2023-06-26 08:36:33
Endometriosis is currently untreatable. But researchers have found a lead to exploit with antibiotics.
Sharp pains, difficulties to get pregnant, bloating or nausea are the daily women with endometriosis. Declaring itself at puberty with the first menstruation, it can attenuate at menopause and even accelerate this phenomenon. But it’s not always the case. At present, the origin of this disease remains unknown to scientists. However, this can be a real burden for the women concerned, on average one in 10 in France.
In fact, many studies are currently being conducted to better understand the disease and try to cure it. And one of these studies represents a hope for treatment with antibiotics. His results were published in June 2023 in the specialist journal Science Translational Medicine.
Endometriosis caused by a bacterial infection?
In this study of endometriosis, Japanese researchers made an amazing discovery. First, they analyzed the uterine tissue of a panel of patients in good health and suffering from the disease. However, they found the presence of a specific bacterium: Fusobacterium bacteria.
The researchers noticed that this was present in the tissues and lesions of two-thirds of sick patients (i.e. 64% of the panel suffering from endometriosis). In contrast, the bacteria was only present in 7% of the control group. In fact, the researchers wanted to continue the investigations but on mice.
They transmitted the bacterium to mice to see the potential effects on the organism of the animals. Then they conducted two separate experiments: a second injection of bacteria in part of the mice and an antibiotic treatment for the other half. But following the injection, a surprising phenomenon was observed.
First results that pave the way for the development of a treatment
Mice given a new dose of bacteria saw existing endometriosis lesions grow larger. New lesions also developed due to the bacteria. At the same time, the mice that received the treatment had less significant lesions.
For this experiment, the researchers injected an antibiotic treatment containing metronidazole and chloramphenicol. The first is already used as treatment for bacterial genital infections and digestive infections. While the second is used in particular in the treatment of Chlamydia.
This experiment demonstrated that it could be possible to mitigate the effects of endometriosis with specific treatment. Moreover, both components are already known and used. Progress in the treatment of endometriosis is therefore promising. However, it will be necessary to wait for new studies and clinical trials before seeing the treatment formalized and marketed.
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