Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) for IBD

In simple terms faecal microbiota transplantation, or FMT as it is often referred to, is the process of taking faeces from a healthy donor, extracting the beneficial intestinal bacteria and yeasts from it and then transplanting it into the colon of a recipient. It is also sometimes referred to as a stool transplant.

In recent years much research has pointed to the importance of a diverse microbiota to maintain human health. In FMT the recipient’s current microbiota is populated with the bacteria extracted from the donor, thus giving them a new gut microbiome make-up.

The use of FMT has been cited in Chinese literature for over 2000 years and since the 1950s in western literature. However, the use of FMT to treat medical conditions is an emerging area of research and medicine and there is currently limited data on outcomes and safety. Studies have shown that FMT is a useful treatment for people with Clostridium difficile (C.diff). In one study FMT was successful in resolving recurrent C.diff infections after one infusion in 81% of patients¹. As a result FMT is now an approved treatment for for recurrent C.diff infections in the UK.

FMT has also been used in people with a range of different gut conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic diarrhoea and/or constipation. It has also been used in people who have neurological conditions, such chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s Disease. However, evidence for its effectiveness in these areas is still emerging.

FMT for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease

Since the late 80s FMT trials have been carried out on patients with ulcerative colitis. In 1989 55 patients with various gastrointestinal disorders were given faecal microbiota transplants and a follow up of six patients in 2003 who had UC showed there was ‘no clinical, colonoscopic or histologic evidence of UC in any patient’².

A review published in August 2018³ of the FMT trials to date said: ‘Clinical trials data are still poor but strongly support a future introduction of FMT in therapy to manage IBD microbiome. More studies are needed to assess the optimal route of administration and the frequency of FMT, the best matched donor for each patient as well as the risks associated with FMT in IBD’.

Much of the evidence for FMT use to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) appears to be for ulcerative colitis, rather than Crohn’s disease.

In an interview in Gastroenterology & Hepatology in May 2018 Dr Paul Moayyedi said: “A small amount of observational case-series data, as well as several randomized, controlled trials (including one conducted by my colleagues and I), suggest that FMT may work in the setting of ulcerative colitis. There is less evidence that FMT works in patients with Crohn’s disease, but the same principle applies”.⁴

A review in 2017 of four of these trials on patients with UC⁵ concluded: ‘Among randomized controlled trials, short-term use of FMT shows promise as a treatment to induce remission in active UC based on the efficacy and safety observed. However, there remain many unanswered questions that require further research before FMT can be considered for use in clinical practice’.

A study examining whether certain types of bacteria were more likely to make FMT an effective treatment for UC. The study found that patients in remission after FMT had enrichment of Eubacterium hallii and Roseburia inulivorans bacteria and increased levels of short-chain fatty acid biosynthesis and secondary bile acids⁶.

At the moment FMT for IBD isn't widely available.

How is faecal microbiota transplantation done?

Researchers have tried various different methods to carry out transplants. These include:

• Via capsule
  
• Via gastro nasal tube - a tube is inserted into your nose and the faecal preparation is sent through the tube to your intestines
  
• Via colonoscopy - during a colonoscopy the faecal preparation is inserted into your colon
  
• Via enema
  

Faecal microbiota transplants for C.diff tend to be carried out via colonoscopy

FMT donors are rigorously screened to make sure they are suitable. The donor must be healthy and lead a healthy lifestyle. There are stool banks which a donor may be selected from.

What are the risks of FMT?

The full extent of risks when using FMT for treating IBD aren’t fully known yet.

When FMT is used to treat C.diff one of the main associated risks is perforation of the bowel if colonoscopy is used to deliver the faecal preparation to the bowel.