First-in-world endometriosis trial begins

Bronwyn is the first patient in the world to trial a revolutionary treatment for endometriosis at The Alfred.

Doctors from The Alfred Interventional Radiology (IR) team, headed up by principal investigator Associate Professor Jim Koukounaras, have designed the world-first study known as the UAE-E trial.

This study will assess whether a procedure known as uterine artery embolisation (UAE), can be effective for women with endometriosis.

Endometriosis affects up to 10 per cent of Australian women and causes debilitating pain. The condition causes the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium) to grow in places that it shouldn’t, leading to pain and scarring. Some women are left with no choice other than to have life-changing major surgery - a hysterectomy - to prevent further scar formation. 

The UAE procedure is performed across the country each day for other conditions such as fibroids, adenomyosis, or post-partum haemorrhage. However, it has never before been used to treat women with endometriosis as an alternative to hysterectomy.

The pinhole procedure involves using low-dose x-rays and contrast dye to guide catheters through the arteries towards the uterus. A medication is used to reduce the blood supply of the offending endometrial cells which then become inactive and shrink. The investigators hope this will prevent the endometrial cells growing in places they shouldn’t. The procedure takes about half an hour, is done under ‘twilight’ sedation, and only requires one overnight recovery stay.     

Bronwyn has been plagued with pelvic pain caused by endometriosis for more than a decade and, with few treatment options currently available, embraced the opportunity to take part in the trial.

The Alfred IR team will enrol six patients into the first stage of this landmark trial, and they hope to share their results through international publication in the near future.