The existence of a link between the composition of the intestinal flora and the occurrence of inflammatory joint diseases, in particular that of spondyloarthritis seems confirmed, according to results of a study published in the medical journal Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.
Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a grouping of several chronic inflammatory joint diseases, characterized by inflammation of the joints of the spine and pelvis.
Inserm researchers studied the implication of environmental factors, in particular the possible role of the intestinal bacterial flora in understanding whether there was a link.
“A large body of old data suggests that there may be a link between the gut and these diseases. For example, there are 20 times more inflammatory bowel disease in patients with SpA than in the general population. “specifies Maxime Breban, professor of rheumatology, specializing in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatism and in particular SpA, head of the rheumatology department at Ambroise Paré hospital.
An intestinal imbalance identified in patients
Since 2009, scientists have been carrying out a study comparing several groups of people: patients with SpA, healthy family controls, as well as people with rheumatoid arthritis (PR) on which they analyzed their gut microbiota to identify the bacterial species present.
The results of the study reveal an imbalance of bacterial populations (intestinal dysbiosis) in patients with SpA or RA, compared to healthy controls.
The researchers also observed the presence of a high proportion of Ruminococcus gnavus bacteria in the intestinal flora of patients with SpA, characterizing the dysbiosis associated with this pathology.
“We realized that the activity of SpA was correlated with the proportion of R. gnavus found in the stool. The hypothesis is therefore that a dysbiosis which would favor the presence of this bacterium could cause inflammatory joint diseases” , concludes the researcher.
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