Efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation for patients with irritable bowel syndrome at three years after transplantation, 2022, El-Salhy et al

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS
The long-term efficacy and possible adverse events of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for IBS are unknown. This study performed a 3-year follow-up of the patients in our previous clinical trial to clarify these aspects.

METHODS
This study included 125 patients (104 females, and 21 males): 38 in a placebo group, 42 who received 30 g of donor feces, and 45 who received 60 g of donor feces. Feces was administered to the duodenum. The patients provided a fecal sample and completed five questionnaires at baseline and at 2 and 3 years after FMT. Fecal bacteria and dysbiosis index (DI) were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene PCR DNA amplification/probe hybridization covering the V3–V9 regions.

RESULTS
Response rates were 26.3%, 69.1%, and 77.8% in the placebo, 30-g, and 60-g groups, respectively, at 2 years after FMT, and 27.0%, 64.9%, and 71.8%, respectively, at 3 years after FMT. The response rates were significantly higher in the 30-g and 60-g groups than in the placebo group. Patients in the 30-g and 60-g groups had significantly fewer IBS symptoms and fatigue, and a greater quality of life both at 2 and 3 years after FMT. The DI decreased only in the active treatment groups at 2 and 3 years after FMT. Fluorescent signals of 10 bacteria had significant correlations with IBS symptoms and fatigue after FMT in the 30-g and 60-g groups. No long-term adverse events were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS
FMT performed according to our protocol resulted in high response rates and long-standing effects with only few mild self-limited adverse events.

Open access, https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(22)00625-4/fulltext

 

Reading the full text I note that re the faecal donor

"his fecal bacteria composition was different from that of 254 healthy subjects for 14 of the 48 tested bacterial markers."

I'm not able to read very well at present (or indeed usually nowadays) but were his fecal bacteria similar to others, and how many?