Features of the reproductive tract microbiota in patients with genital endometriosis. A literature review

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Due to the widespread prevalence, steady growth and insufficient effectiveness of existing treatment regimens for external genital endometriosis, further study of the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease remains relevant. Inflammation is known to be one of the links in the pathogenesis of endometriosis; therefore, there is reason to believe that microorganisms are involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the role of the reproductive tract microbiota in patients with endometriosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This literature review was performed using systematic reviews, meta-analyses and experimental studies from such electronic databases as PubMed, CyberLeninka, and ScienceDirect published in the period from 1992 to 2021.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In the review, we present the pathogenetic relationship between pelvic inflammatory diseases and endometriosis. The quantitatively and qualitatively altered microbiota composition of the reproductive tract, the genetic-epigenetic theory on the pathogenesis of endometriosis, which is based on mutations that accumulate directly under the influence of infectious agents, as well as the mechanisms of an abnormal immune response modeled by microorganisms, reflect the interconnection between the microbiota and the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Based on a number of studies, the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and the abdominal microbiome has been confirmed. Since endometriosis is the estrogen-dependent disease, of importance is the ability of the intestinal microbiota to produce β-glucuronidase, which is enhanced by gut microbial dysbiosis, thus possibly contributing to the progression of endometriosis. One of the important practical directions is the drug correction of dysbiotic conditions. The effectiveness of antibiotic therapy has been demonstrated by experimentally induced endometriosis model. Currently, there are very few highly specific methods for non-invasive diagnosis of the disease, therefore, the study of the reproductive tract and intestinal microflora of women with endometriosis is promising for the introduction of new laboratory diagnostic methods.

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About the authors

Olga E. Kazymova

The Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O. Ott

Author for correspondence.
Email: olia.merk@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3869-010X
SPIN-code: 5986-3469

MD

Russian Federation, 3, Mendeleevskaya Line, Saint Petersburg, 199034

Maria I. Yarmolinskaya

The Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O. Ott; North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: m.yarmolinskaya@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6551-4147
SPIN-code: 3686-3605
Scopus Author ID: 7801562649
ResearcherId: P-2183-2014

MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Russian Federation, 3, Mendeleevskaya Line, Saint Petersburg, 199034; Saint Petersburg

Alevtina M. Savicheva

The Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O. Ott; Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University

Email: savitcheva@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3870-5930
SPIN-code: 8007-2630
Scopus Author ID: 6602838765
ResearcherId: P-6788-2015

MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation

Russian Federation, 3, Mendeleevskaya Line, Saint Petersburg, 199034; Saint Petersburg

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СМИ зарегистрировано Федеральной службой по надзору в сфере связи, информационных технологий и массовых коммуникаций (Роскомнадзор).
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СМИ зарегистрировано Федеральной службой по надзору в сфере связи, информационных технологий и массовых коммуникаций (Роскомнадзор).
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