Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Raid, C.
Chronic endometritis and endometrial microbiome in infertility patients- A literature review and retrospective data analysis
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medizinische Universität Graz; 2024. pp.
- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Advisor:
- Feigl Sarah
- Kollmann Martina
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Background: Chronic endometritis (CE) is a persistent inflammation of the endometrium, mainly characterized by the infiltration of plasma cells into the endometrial stroma. In context with infertility issues CE is known to be a risk factor for recurrent implantation failure and repeated abortions. The uterine microbiome has become increasingly relevant in the past years since researchers have reported its influence on infertility and uterine-related diseases. An association between a disbalance of the endometrial microbiome and chronic endometritis is strongly assumed. Objective: The goal of this thesis is to summarize current literature on the topic chronic endometritis and uterine microbiome and to give an overview of collected data on infertility patients treated at the Department of Obstetrics of the Medical University of Graz to demonstrate possible connections between chronic endometritis, the endometrial microbiota and infertility issues. Material and methods: A narrative summary of the recent literature on the topic chronic endometritis and the influence of the uterine microbiome was conducted. The medical data bank PubMed was mainly searched for systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials published from 2018 to 2023. In the context of the retrospective study data on women, which underwent diagnostic procedures to identify chronic endometritis was collected. Using the hospital information system ‘openMEDOCS’ further clinical information was obtained. Microsoft Excel was used to statistically evaluate and give an overview of all the collected data. Results: 99 women were included in this study. 19 patients (19,2%) were diagnosed with chronic endometritis. 13 women (68%) out of the CE patients had already experienced abortion or RIF. Furthermore 80% of CE cases, which were analyzed by molecular techniques, had a non-Lactobacillus-dominated (<90%) endometrial microbiome. Six out of seven women were cured after antibiotic treatment (85,7%) and two patients subsequently achieved a spontaneous conceptus. Conclusion: This study highlighted the impact of chronic endometritis on spontaneous aborts and RIF and demonstrated the effects of antibiotic treatment, which seemingly improves reproductive outcomes. Concerning the microbial composition within CE patients, a more diverse and non-Lactobacillus dominant microbiome is to be found. This decrease in dominance of Lactobacillus spp. may be linked to poor reproductive outcomes.