DOP07 Long-term results of 4.5 years of faecal microbiota transplantation for treatment of refractory ulcerative colitis
A. Uygun1, M.F. Karakaya1, H. Erdal1, G. Celebi1, Y.S. Sakin1, C. Artuk2, K. Ozturk1, M. Gulsen1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Gulhane Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, 2Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Gulhane Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
Background
Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) provides replacement of pathogenic bacteria with more favourable microbiomes in recipients with dysbiosis. The aim of the present study was to prospectively investigate the efficacy of FMT by assessing the clinical and endoscopic response in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who had failed anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and TNF-α inhibitors (Infliximab, Adalimumab, Vedolizumab) therapy.
Methods
In this prospective and uncontrolled study, 116 patients with UC were enrolled. All medications except mesalazine were discontinued 1 week before FMT. Colonoscopy was performed both before and after FMT. To assess the efficacy of FMT, Mayo scores were calculated at weeks 0, 24 and 48. A total of 400–600 ml of extracted fresh faecal suspension was administered into the 20 to 30 cm of terminal ileum of recipients.
Results
After 4.5 years of FMT experience with 116 patients, who have completed their 6 months after 236 procedures of FMT for treatment of UC, 42 of the 116 patients showed full clinical response (100% clinical + laboratory + endoscopically full response) (per-protocol analysis 37.1%), (intention-to-treat analysis 36.2%) at Week 48 and 33 of the 116 patients achieved clinical and endoscopic remission (laboratory 70%, clinically and endoscopically 50–75% improvement) (per-protocol analysis 29.2%), (intention-to-treat analysis 28.4%) at Week 48. Thirty-eight of the 116 patients were accepted as nonresponders at the end of Week 48 (per-protocol analysis 29.2%), (intention-to-treat analysis 32.7%) and 3 patients (2.5%) were lost to follow-up. There was no significant difference among donors concerning both the rate of clinical remission and clinical response. At 4.5 years, serious side effects were observed on 2 patients, 1 colon perforation and 1 toxic megacolon; both were directed to surgery. In 48 weeks’ follow-up, 31 patients (26.7%) experienced mild adverse events after FMT, such as elevated white blood cell counts and ESR, nausea, abdominal pain and high fever, all were managed conservatively.
Conclusion
FMT could be considered as a promising rescue treatment modality before surgery in patients with refractory UC. Our research is the first in the world for the treatment of UC resistant to medical treatment before surgery. Also, it is the first research to show the long-term results of FMT. FMT appears to be significantly safer and more tolerable than the immunosuppressive and TNF-α inhibitors therapy in patients with UC.