Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBE SCIENTIFIC, LLC

Download Mobile App




Non-Invasive Stool Test to Diagnose Endometriosis and Help Reduce Disease Progression

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 14 Oct 2024

Endometriosis, a painful condition impacting nearly 200 million women globally, occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside its usual location, such as on the intestines or the abdominal lining. More...

This abnormal growth typically leads to bleeding, pain, inflammation, and infertility. On average, it takes about seven years to diagnose endometriosis, and it is often misdiagnosed as a bowel condition. The delays in diagnosis, coupled with the reliance on invasive diagnostic methods and ineffective treatments, highlight the urgent need for better management of this condition. Now, researchers have made promising discoveries that could pave the way for a non-invasive stool test and a new treatment option for endometriosis.

Earlier research conducted on mice by scientists at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX, USA) and their collaborators indicated that the microbiome—communities of bacteria within the body—and their metabolites may play a role in the progression of endometriosis. In the current study, researchers focused on the microbiome's involvement by comparing the bacteria and metabolites in the stools of women with endometriosis to those of healthy women. They found notable differences between the two groups. Specifically, they identified a combination of bacterial metabolites unique to women with endometriosis, including 4-hydroxyindole, a compound produced by beneficial bacteria. Women with endometriosis had lower levels of this metabolite compared to those without the condition. Additionally, extensive research revealed that administering 4-hydroxyindole to animal models of endometriosis effectively prevented the onset and progression of inflammation and pain associated with the disease.

The findings, published in the journal Med, suggest that the stool metabolites found in women with endometriosis could form the basis for a non-invasive diagnostic test, as well as a potential therapeutic approach to slow disease progression. Interestingly, the metabolite profile discovered in endometriosis patients mirrors that seen in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), hinting at a possible link between the two conditions. This research supports the idea that the microbiome plays a role in both endometriosis and IBD. The team continues to work on developing a non-invasive stool test for diagnosing endometriosis and is conducting further studies to assess the safety and effectiveness of 4-hydroxyindole as a potential treatment for the condition.

“These findings are very exciting,” said Dr. Chandni Talwar from Baylor. “There are studies in animal models of the disease that have shown specific bacterial metabolite signatures associated with endometriosis. Our study is the first to discover a unique metabolite profile linked to human endometriosis, which brings us closer to better understanding the human condition and potentially identifying better ways to manage it.”


Gold Member
Quantitative POC Immunoassay Analyzer
EASY READER+
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Staining Management Software
DakoLink
New
Silver Member
Quality Control Material
NATtrol Chlamydia trachomatis Positive Control
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more

Pathology

view channel
These images illustrate how precision oncology Organ Chips recapitulate individual patients’ responses to chemotherapy (Photo courtesy of Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the two primary types of esophageal cancer, ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective targeted therapies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.