Promote better management of endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological disease caused by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. This pathology currently affects 150 million women worldwide. On average, women with endometriosis have to wait 7 years to be diagnosed. To find endometriosis today, women need to do x-ray exams like ultrasound or MRI scans.
To allow better management and avoid late diagnoses, Dr. Barbara Guinn, researcher in biomedical sciences at the University of Hull in England, has been working since 2018 on a test project to help diagnose patients with this pathology more quickly. gynecological. Similar to a pregnancy test, the device would allow an almost instant diagnosis.
A faster and more convenient test for an earlier diagnosis
To create this ultra-rapid screening test, Dr. Barbara Guinn relies on the method of immunotherapy which consists of detecting the presence of endometrial tissue using a protein in the body. The scientist explains it as follows: “ We are currently in the phase where we are trying to create a model of early hypoxia (lack of oxygen supply to body tissues) in the laboratory using a machine called a ‘hypoxia chamber’. . We use immortalized endometrial cells and subject them to very low oxygen tensions. The uterus normally has an oxygen level of around 5% but when the endometrial cells move to the abdomen, the oxygen tension drops to around 1%. We are looking to determine what effect this new environment in the abdomen has on cell behavior. “.
While the test is not yet operational, it highlights the importance of better care and earlier diagnosis for women with endometriosis. As a reminder, if the disease is discovered too late, it may require heavy operations. And before it gets to this stage, endometriosis can be very disabling for affected patients. In addition to pain during periods and sexual intercourse, it can also have an impact on fertility.
