Faecal Microbiota Transplantation [FMT] in the Treatment of Chronic Refractory Pouchitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Shafquat Zaman, Akinfemi Akingboye, Ali Yasen Y. Mohamedahmed, Elizabeth Peterknecht, Pratik Bhattacharya, Mohammed E. El-Asrag, Tariq H. Iqbal, Mohammed Nabil Quraishi, Andrew D. Beggs

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy and safety of faecal microbiota transplantation [FMT] in the treatment of chronic pouchitis.

METHODS: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using the following databases and clinical trial registers: Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [CENTRAL], clinical trials.gov, ScienceDirect, and VHL [virtual health library]. The primary outcome was clinical response/remission in patients treated with FMT. Secondary outcomes included safety profile, quality of life, and changes in the gut microbiome.

RESULTS: Seven observational cohort studies/case series and two randomised, controlled trials with a total of 103 patients were included. The route, preparation, and quantity of FMT administered varied among the included studies. Clinical response rate of 42.6% with a remission rate of 29.8% was estimated in our cohort following FMT therapy. Minor, self-limiting, adverse events were reported, and the treatment was well tolerated with good short- and long-term safety profiles. Successful FMT engraftment in recipients varied and, on average, microbial richness and diversity was lower in patients with pouchitis. In some instances, shifts with specific changes towards abundance of species, suggestive of a 'healthier' pouch microbiota, were observed following treatment with FMT.

CONCLUSION: The evidence for FMT in the treatment of chronic pouchitis is sparse, which limits any recommendations being made for its use in clinical practice. Current evidence from low-quality studies suggests a variable clinical response and remission rate, but the treatment is well tolerated, with a good safety profile. This review emphasises the need for rationally designed, well-powered, randomised, placebo-controlled trials to understand the efficacy of FMT for the treatment of pouchitis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)144-161
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Crohn's and Colitis
Volume18
Issue number1
Early online date14 Jul 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2024

Keywords

  • Chronic pouchitis
  • FMT
  • dysbiosis
  • faecal microbiota transplantation
  • microbiome

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