Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Refractory to Conventional Therapy / 胃肠病学

ABSTRACT

Background: The efficacy of traditional treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is limited. Some small case series published abroad showed that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is effective for treatment-resistant IBS, but studies investigating the effect of FMT on IBS refractory to conventional therapy are rare in China. Aims: To observe the efficacy and safety of FMT in patients with IBS refractory to conventional therapy. Methods: Nineteen inpatients with IBS (including 15 cases of IBS with diarrhea and 4 cases of IBS unclassifiable) at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University who were refractory to conventional treatment for more than 6 months were enrolled in this study. Fecal microbiota was transplanted through colonic or middle digestive tract transendoscopic enteral tubing (TET). The clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated after 1 month and 6 months of treatment. Results: Each IBS patient received 2-4 courses of treatment (totally 186 FMT procedures). The mean value of Bristol stool form scale was 6.00±0.67 before FMT treatment, and decreased to 4.58±0.61 and 4.32±0.58 after 1 month and 6 months of treatment, respectively (P0.05). The most common adverse effects were transient diarrhea, distension and abdominal pain during the hospitalization. During the 6-month follow-up, no adverse effects and pathogen-related diseases were observed. Conclusions: FMT is effective for the treatment of IBS patients who are refractory to conventional therapy. The adverse effects are mild and transient.