Endométriose : Un nouveau test urinaire pourrait réduire les délais de diagnostic de plusieurs années

Endométriose est l'endroit où des cellules similaires à celles de la paroi de l'utérus (matrice) se trouvent ailleurs dans le corps. Chaque mois, ces cellules réagissent de la même manière que celles de l'utérus - elles se développent, puis se décomposent et saignent.

Mais alors que le sang dans les cellules de l'utérus quitte le corps lorsque vous avez vos règles, il n'y a nulle part où ce sang peut aller - ce qui provoque une inflammation, de la douleur et la formation de tissu cicatriciel. Si non traité, selon l'emplacement de ce tissu, cela peut entraîner des dommages aux organes et l'infertilité.

How endometriosis could be diagnosed with a simple urine test

Actuellement, les femmes peuvent avoir besoin de plusieurs rendez-vous avec des spécialistes, ainsi que de routine et IRM scans, pour déterminer s'ils ont endometriosis. To be definitely diagnosed they may also need a surgical procedure called a laparoscopy - when a surgeon cuts into the abdomen to look for endometriosis tissue. But, University of Hull researchers are developing a new urine sample test to give a rapid, non-invasive test to help detect the condition.

Dr Barbara Guinn, biomedical sciences specialist at the University of Hull, identified proteins that are increased in the urine of women suffering from endometriosis.

It is not available for the public yet, but it is this discovery that will enable the development of the test, called EndoTect, that will take seconds to indicate whether endometriosis is the cause of the symptoms a patient is experiencing.

“Si vous pensez que vous pourriez avoir de l'endométriose parce que vous avez des saignements intermenstruels, des saignements entre les règles, et ressentez de la douleur lorsque vous avez des règles, sexe, ou aller aux toilettes ou si vous avez essayé d'obtenir enceinte, for a long time - will be able to go to your family doctor and discuss the issues you are facing,” she explains.

“If your doctor suspects deep endometriosis, you may be asked to provide a urine sample, which can be sent to the lab and tested.” she says. “The results could be back within 8 to 14 days.”

Le test peut également indiquer si les patients ont des problèmes profonds ou superficiels endometriosis et surveiller l'efficacité du traitement. Comme c'est le cas pour de nombreuses maladies, l'endométriose peut varier en gravité.

With deep endometriosis, which is more severe and advanced, the endometriosis cells can embed themselves deeper into the tissues. Because they’re closer to organs like the bowels and bladder, as well as the nerves and blood vessels, they can be more difficult to remove surgically. Often, deep endometriosis can cause more severe symptoms too.

However, identifying how severe the disease is, is the first step in finding the right treatment. “The test will mean people get treatment quickly,” says Guinn. “The sooner we treat endometriosis, the less difficult it will be to treat and the more effective the treatment. It will also end the current average eight year wait patients seeking answers face.”

Affect of endometriosis

It’s a condition with no cure that causes suffering for the 1.5 million women - and those assigned female at birth - affected. Being diagnosed is essential to access treatments to ease the symptoms, but this can take a long time because the symptoms vary widely and may be dismissed as ‘just period pain’.

Guinn says that endometriosis presents in a similar way to other gynaecological disorders such as pelvic inflammatory disease or ovarian cysts, which can make a diagnosis difficult.

It’s important to take into account the psychological impact of endometriosis too. The pain, as well as problems with fertility, can cause emotional trauma, relationship difficulties and even affect people’s careers and social lives too. Endometriosis costs the UK economy £8.2bn a year in treatment, loss of work and healthcare costs¹.

Although the test is still being developed, it’s hoped it will be available to the public in a few years.

“We hope the test will first be used by healthcare professionals who can talk to patients about the results and give them advice and a chance to ask any questions they may have,” says Guinn. “EndoTect, our non-invasive urine test for endometriosis is still in the early stages of development and so may take another 2 to 3 years before it is available, hopefully through the NHS.”

Pour en savoir plus

1. Endometriosis UK: Facts and figures.