Therapeutic Potential of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.
Gastroenterology. 2013 Sep 6;
Authors: Smits LP, Bouter KE, de Vos WM, Borody TJ, Nieuwdorp M
Abstract
There has been growing interest in the use of fecal microbiota for treatment of chronic gastrointestinal infections and inflammatory bowel diseases. Lately, there has also been interest in its therapeutic potential for cardiometabolic, autoimmune, and other extra-intestinal conditions that were not previously considered to be associated with the intestinal microbiota. Although it is not clear if changes in the microbiota cause these conditions, we review the most current and best methods for performing fecal microbiota transplantation and summarize clinical observations that have implicated the intestinal microbiota in various diseases. We also discuss case reports of fecal microbiota transplantations for different disorders, including Clostridium difficile infection, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, insulin resistance, multiple sclerosis, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. There has been increasing focus on the interaction between the intestinal microbiome, obesity, and cardio-metabolic diseases-we explore these relationships and the potential roles of different microbial strains. We might someday be able to mine for intestinal bacterial strains that can be used in diagnosis or treatment of these diseases.
PMID: 24018052 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]